Touchstone Foundation has been awarded $255,766 through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grant program to support the expansion and strengthening of its Rise Above program.

Launched in 2022, Rise Above was created to help eliminate stigma surrounding youth mental wellness while empowering young people with tools for resilience, self-awareness, and advocacy. The program brings mental wellness programming and youth mentorship to Lancaster County schools for students in grades seven through 12 as well as to young adults ages 18 to 26 in community groups.

The program seeks to create inclusive spaces that foster belonging, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations about mental health. One of its goals is to reduce long-term risk factors associated with trauma and mental health challenges. Through creative expression and guided conversations, students may build emotional awareness, develop coping skills, and gain confidence to advocate for themselves and others.

The consistent presence of a caring, supportive adult is a protective factor for many childhood adversities. Supportive adult mentors can protect and buffer children from toxic stress, help children heal and build resiliency, and inspire young people to build strong relationships.

Through the recent competitive award, Rise Above will expand its reach significantly, with a goal of serving 1,120 Lancaster County students and young adults by 2029.

With support in 2024 from the Lancaster County Community Foundation's $35,000 Shaping Tomorrow Next Generation Grant, part of a broader $1 million investment into Lancaster County initiatives, Touchstone Foundation is expanding Rise Above into Lancaster County schools through school-day workshops, after-school programming, summer intensives, and community-based groups for young adults. Additional support for Rise Above was also received in 2025 from the City Limits Foundation, helping strengthen the program's long-term impact and reach.

With the new VIP grant funding, Touchstone Foundation is expanding Rise Above into Lancaster County schools, serving students in grades seven through 12 during the school day and through after-school programming. The expansion also includes new opportunities for young adults through community-based groups, extending support beyond high school.

A key component of the expansion is the development of a Safe Space Facilitator training program. This initiative will equip mental health professionals, artists, and community members - as well as Rise Above graduates - with the tools to serve as mentors. Training includes Youth Mental Health First Aid, trauma-informed care, and child abuse prevention and reporting.

The program expansion has also received recognition and support from Pennsylvania leaders and community partners who continue to advocate for youth mental wellness, violence prevention, and mentorship initiatives across the commonwealth.

To learn more or schedule a meeting to bring Rise Above to a local school, contact programs manager Madeline Mitchell at mmitchell@touchstonefound.org.

For more information and applications, visit https://touchstonefound.org/rise-above/.

Touchstone Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has focused on elevating the mental well-being of youths and children in Lancaster County for 25 years.