LifeBridge Community Services Awarded $150,000Grant from The Cigna Group Foundation to Expand Youth Mental Health Services in Bridgeport Schools

Funding will support LifeBridge’s partnership with Bridgeport Public Schools as the

successful Harding Plus model expands to Bassick and Central high schools

BRIDGEPORT — LifeBridge Community Services has been awarded a $150,000 grant from The Cigna Group Foundation to expand access to school-based mental health services for young people in Bridgeport.

LifeBridge is one of 22 nonprofit organizations across 10 states selected to receive funding through The Cigna Group Foundation’s 2026 Improving Youth Mental Health grant program. The funding is part of the Foundation’s three-year, $9 million commitment supporting nonprofit organizations that help young people, families, caregivers, and youth-serving professionals build stronger foundations for mental health and well-being.

The one-year grant will support LifeBridge’s Bridgeport Youth Mental Health Access Initiative, strengthening its partnership with Bridgeport Public Schools as the district expands its innovative Plus Program from Warren Harding High School to Bassick and Central high schools. Approximately 150 students are expected to have access to school-based mental health services through the initiative during the 2026–2027 grant year.

“We are incredibly grateful to The Cigna Group Foundation for investing in the mental health and future of Bridgeport’s young people,” said Edith Boyle, President & CEO of LifeBridge

Community Services. “Students bring much more into the classroom than their academic needs. Experiences outside of school can affect a young person’s well-being, attendance, ability to focus, and engagement in learning. By integrating mental health care into the educational setting, the Plus Program gives students another layer of support while building on their strengths and helping them continue their path toward graduation.”

Alternative education programs have long provided different pathways for students who benefit from an educational setting outside the traditional school day. What distinguishes Bridgeport’s Plus Program is its intentional integration of academics, mental health care, and trauma-informed support.

The model was piloted at Warren Harding High School this past spring as Harding Plus. Bridgeport Public Schools developed the alternative education program in partnership with

LifeBridge, one of the district’s lead mental health partners. LifeBridge helped support the program’s design and provides its clinical component, giving students access to mental health

care within the same supportive setting where they can earn credits and continue working toward graduation.

“Harding Plus was created around a simple idea: when we understand and respond to the challenges students are facing, we give them a stronger opportunity to succeed,” said Dr. Royce Avery, Interim Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools. “Our partnership with LifeBridge allows us to bring academic and mental health support together in one setting. The early results at Harding show what is possible when students have the right support around them, and we are excited to bring this approach to Bassick and Central.”

The partnership responds to an important community need. Approximately one in three Bridgeport students is chronically absent from school, and Bridgeport is designated as a Mental

Health Professional Shortage Area, creating barriers to timely mental health care for many children and families. Across LifeBridge’s broader youth mental health programs, 44% of young

people served this past year met the clinical threshold for significant trauma-related symptoms, further demonstrating the need for accessible, trauma-informed care.

Early results from Harding Plus demonstrate the promise of combining academic and mental health supports. During the past school year, 108 students reconnected with school and support services, and 55% chose to participate in weekly mental health counseling offered on site. More than half of participating seniors who had previously been off track for graduation are expected to graduate, and among students receiving specialized learning support, 82% improved their attendance.

Bridgeport Public Schools is now expanding the model to Bassick Plus and Central Plus. Funding from The Cigna Group Foundation will enable LifeBridge to expand its mental health

services across all three programs. Licensed LifeBridge clinicians will provide on-site therapy, crisis support, and care coordination and work alongside students, families, school staff, and community providers to support students’ mental health, strengthen coping skills and resilience, and connect families with additional resources when needed.

“Supporting youth mental health requires a collective effort, and strong community partners play a vital role,” said Sara Quist, President, The Cigna Group Foundation. “Organizations like

LifeBridge Community Services are helping young people and families access trusted support, build meaningful connections, and develop the tools they need to thrive.”

By bringing mental health services directly into the school setting, the partnership makes care easier to access and allows academic and mental health supports to work together—helping students strengthen their well-being, remain connected to school, and continue working toward graduation.