Call for Mental Health Services
Hanna Center in Sonoma has awarded $250,000 in scholarships to 23 alumni and one participant in its transitional housing program, with recipients’ goals ranging from attending four-year universities to community colleges and trade schools.
“It is incredibly inspiring to see our alumni return to campus to share their hopes and dreams,” said Cameron Safarloo, president and CEO of Hanna Center and Hanna Academy, in a news release. “Our goal is to create opportunities for lasting, meaningful success for every student …”
He added that the scholarship program is a positive resource for Hanna Center alumni as they move into the next phase of their lives.
To qualify for a scholarship, alumni must complete the Hanna Center program, demonstrate a desire to continue their education, complete a written application and be interviewed by the scholarship committee. Interview panels included Hanna staff members, board members, stake holders and alumni.
This year, students applied for grants in a wide range of continuing education areas, including barber school, physical therapy and kinesiology, marketing, acting and theater arts as well as master’s degree programs in business administration, financial advising and sports management.
Established in 1952, the scholarship program has awarded hundreds of grants, with an average annual fund of $250,000. Scholarship grantees have completed degrees at top institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, as well as St. John’s University, Howard University, Sonoma State University, Clark Atlanta University, Pima Medical Institute, Skyline College and California State University, Fullerton.
Located on a 90-acre campus, Hanna Center is a nonprofit organization that offers a system of mental-health, trauma-informed care training as well as residential and community support services to improve the wellbeing and mental health of youth, families and communities. Its offerings extend from mental health services and clinical resources to recreational programs open to the community in multiple languages and a variety of settings.
Hanna Center also offers training for organizations, practitioners and other individuals nationwide in the trauma-informed best practices and methods implemented in its programs.