LOWELL – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, was recently joined by Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia to highlight $5,665,706 in federal funding awarded to LUK, Inc. to improve mental and behavioral health services in Fitchburg.
“The mental health crisis has impacted every single person in our community in one way or another, and that’s particularly true for our youth. I’m proud to secure this significant federal investment that will expand access to mental and behavioral health services here in Fitchburg and across North Central Massachusetts,” Trahan said. “No organization is better prepared to meet the mental health needs of the community more than LUK Inc., which has built trust and a track record of success over decades of service here in Fitchburg.”
“This investment shows that Fitchburg, led by community organizations like LUK Inc., is proudly at the forefront of the fight to promote mental and behavioral health,” Squailia said. “We must continue to nurture a protective, supportive and uplifting environment for those of us who are most in need and LUK Inc. and the devoted staff here represent some of the best of this effort, we look forward to all the great work to come.”
“LUK is beyond thrilled to implement programming to help children, families, and young adults to meet their unique potential,” said LUK CEO Beth Barto. “We are thankful to the federal government for their ongoing support to implement these essential services. We appreciate Congresswoman Trahan’s steadfast advocacy for our community.”
Founded in 1970, LUK is a nonprofit social service agency that aims to help young people and their families in North Central Massachusetts through a full spectrum of programs addressing mental health, trauma, addiction and substance use prevention, homelessness, and more. Each year LUK delivers crisis care, social services, and behavioral health care to over 3,000 children and adults.
They offer strength-based services, meaning each person or family receives individualized care, sets their own goals with the support of LUK staff, and has a voice throughout their care.
To support those services, LUK secured $5,665,706 in total federal funding through three separate programs.
LUK will receive $4 million over four years through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to support the development of a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to expand behavioral health services and targeted case management for North Central Massachusetts residents through home-, clinic-, community-, and school-based settings.
LUK is also receiving $972,406 over three years from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to implement a Personalized Approach to Healing (PATH) program aiming to interrupt the multigenerational cycle of violence for North Central youth under age 18 who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence.
Finally, LUK has also been awarded $693,300 over three years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Basic Center Program (BCP) to support their Transition to Independent Living Program, which provide four slots of temporary emergency shelter, basic need supplies, and counseling and referral services to homeless youth under the age of 18 who have no safe parent or guardian or alternative living arrangement.
Trahan has used her position to support LUK’s efforts in North Central Massachusetts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Trahan secured more than $1 million to expand access to mental health services and youth emergency shelter and counseling. She also spearheaded the introduction of bicameral legislation to increase federal investments in successful youth mentoring programs like LUK’s.
