Supporting teens when they need it most
The project began with a simple observation: teens experiencing a mental health crisis often arrive for inpatient treatment during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. A small gesture of kindness can remind them that their community sees them, supports them, and is rooting for their recovery.
How It Began
The Idea: Sarah Lapier, our Mental Health Liaison, recognized an opportunity to support adolescents receiving inpatient mental health care at Snowden. Reaching Out: We approached the team at Snowden about creating care packages specifically for their adolescent patients.
Meeting Safety Requirements: In-patient mental health centers have strict safety requirements, so Sarah researched which items patients could safely receive and helped design packages accordingly.
Community Support: Our community raised the funds needed to bring the project to life.
50 Care Packages: Cora and Sarah purchased the supplies, assembled 50 individual care packages, and delivered them for teens receiving treatment at Snowden.
An Incredible Response: Snowden’s head nurse told us the packages were a huge hit with the patients and had made a meaningful difference.
A Tradition Begins: The enthusiastic response made it clear that this was an initiative worth continuing—and laid the foundation for what would become the Resilience Alliance.
Growing the Mission
Year Two: Sarah took full ownership of the initiative, overseeing everything from selecting and purchasing items to assembling and delivering the care packages.
60 More Teens Served: The project grew, providing 60 additional care packages to adolescent patients at Snowden.
A New Name: In its second year, the project officially became the Resilience Alliance.
Why “Resilience Alliance”? The name represents an alliance among young people, schools, treatment facilities, healthcare providers, families, and the broader community—all working together to support teen mental health and build resilience.
110 Teens—and Counting: Across its first two years, the Resilience Alliance has provided care packages to 110 teens receiving inpatient mental health treatment.