The Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley’s newest undertaking is Project SUN (Strengthening and Unifying our Network), a community initiative to promote the mental health and well-being of children in Kankakee County. The Network aims to connect all the parties involved with helping children flourish. This project focuses on promoting healthy social and emotional development and life transitions, as well as, facilitating easy access to children’s mental health services in Kankakee County.

The goal is to develop a family-driven system of care (SOC) that promotes wellness and offers all youth (0-21) and their families multiple avenues to access a comprehensive, integrated mental health care system that meets the needs of the whole child. This SOC model involves services provided in several Kankakee County community-based systems, including mental health, primary healthcare, early childhood, schools, courts, faith-based, and civic organizations.

Project SUN takes advantage of the best components each system has to offer; referring, serving, and supporting families as individual situations dictate. It is funded by a seven-year grant to CFKRV from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation. To learn more and get involved with this project, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 815.304.5933 or visit the website at www.projectsunkankakee.org.