Atrium Health Receives $2.08 Million Grant from The Leon Levine Foundation to Expand School-Based Therapy to Rural NC Counties

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 28, 2025 – Children living in rural areas of North Carolina will now have greater access to mental health care through a $2.08 million grant from The Leon Levine Foundation to expand Atrium Health’s School-Based Therapy Program to serve K-12 students in five rural counties.

With support from The Leon Levine Foundation, the program will address unique barriers to mental health care experienced by residents in rural communities, including students in Title I schools who come from lower income families. This critical development within the program reflects Atrium Health's deep commitment to all patients and families in our service area.

Compared to urban areas, rural communities have fewer options for both primary and mental health care services, a challenge compounded by negative stigmas associated with mental illness and a lack of behavioral health support resources. Atrium Health’s School-Based Therapy Program aims to fill these critical gaps in mental health care and community education.

“Through Atrium Health’s School-Based Therapy Program, I have seen firsthand the impact of providing high quality care in schools for the students and the communities we serve,” shared Donnie Mitchem, director of outpatient therapy for Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte. “We are so grateful for organizations like The Leon Levine Foundation for recognizing the need and helping us help others.”

Currently providing care in two states, 11 counties, and more than 206 schools, Atrium Health’s School-Based Therapy Program works with local school systems and is powered by 33+ licensed therapists who offer more than 8,500 in-person and 12,000 virtual therapy sessions each year.

As North Carolina continues to rank above the national average for prevalence of mental health illness, support from The Leon Levine Foundation will help Atrium Health meet a critical need for behavioral health services in Charlotte and surrounding communities.

“Children deserve access to world-class behavioral and mental health care services, regardless of where they live or the resources of their family,” said Tom Lawrence, President and CEO of The Leon Levine Foundation. “We are not only supporting a program that improves access to care – we are investing in the health of our rural neighbors.”

Through The Leon Levine Foundation’s generous commitment, students will have essential access to virtual and in-person therapy and educational sessions that prioritize early medical intervention and treatment, provide a supportive environment to boost students’ coping skills, and ultimately support students’ academic success.