Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana (MHANI) has been awarded a grant in the amount of $105,000 by AWS Foundation. The funds from this grant will be used to support guardianship and Kids on the Block™. This grant from AWS Foundation will support our adult guardianship services.

MHANI is the front door to guardianship services. We offer adult guardianship services for seniors and at-risk adults, including those with dementias, mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities. Our guardians are nationally certified to provide advocacy and protective care for adults who are not able to make sound decisions on their own.

The AWS Foundation grant will also fully fund the Kids on the Block™ program. Kids on the Block™ uses life-size puppets to teach third grade students about kindness and acceptance. Each puppet has a disability or difference, such as a severe burn or cerebral palsy. Kids on the Block™ puppeteers perform skits which highlight the disability and the puppets’ response to it. Following skits, there is an interactive portion where the puppeteers and students both ask questions.

“The support of AWS Foundation has been instrumental in the success of both of these programs,” Lisa Smith, Executive Director, commented. “We are pleased to have financial backing from a local foundation which does such great work.”

Founded in 2007, AWS Foundation supports a wide range of organizations in northeast Indiana working to develop a community in which people with enduring intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities are engaged fully and meaningfully in all aspects of community life. For more information, visit awsfoundation.org.

For over 60 years, MHANI has provided essential resources, advocacy, and education to professionals, individuals, and families who are affected by mental illness. Through these services, they want to ensure that all individuals facing mental health challenges are supported and gain access to the resources they need.