Adler Community Health Services (ACHS), the clinical training center within Adler University, has received a grant from The Chicago Community Trust to expand culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth across Chicago.
The investment will support ongoing on-site mental health services at Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts), deepen ACHS’s existing collaboration with After School Matters (ASM), and launch new programming with BUILD Chicago this fall. Together, these partnerships deliver more than 400 hours of direct mental health care annually to LGBTQ+ youth in communities where affirming services still remain critically scarce. Services will be offered both in person and via telehealth to ensure accessibility and reduce barriers to care.
Kevin Osten-Garner, Psy.D.
Executive Director and Chief Psychologist, Adler Community Health Services
As a clinical training center, we have two goals. The first is to expand access to affordable, quality behavioral health for all. The second is to prepare future clinicians for systems-level practice so they are equipped with the knowledge on how to build trust, navigate complex systems, and support continuity of care — competencies essential to effective, socially responsible practice. This investment from The Chicago Community Trust strengthens our ability to meet youth where they are and provide the consistent, high-quality care they deserve.
ACHS services include individual therapy, psychological testing, and psychoeducational groups specifically designed to support LGBTQ+ youth. In addition to direct clinical care, ACHS clinicians will provide consultation for program staff and offer training for teachers, front-line staff, and parents to better recognize mental health symptoms, understand trauma, and respond to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ young people.
Previous grant funding has already demonstrated a measurable impact. At ChiArts, the percentage of students accessing mental health services increased from 25% to 33%, reflecting both growing trust in the services and expanded access to care. With this new investment, ACHS aims to build that momentum and reach even more young people who may otherwise go without support.
By embedding clinicians directly within youth-serving organizations and schools, ACHS reduces traditional barriers to mental health care, including cost, transportation, and stigma — while ensuring services are culturally responsive.
The Chicago Community Trust grant underscores a shared commitment to advancing mental health equity for all youth and strengthening community-based partnerships that expand access to care across Chicago. For more information about Adler Community Health Services, visit adler.edu/achs.