Cities Strong Foundation is an organization that connects neighborhoods with the resources to support families’ mental health needs in Utah. We connect people, partners, faith communities, schools, and cities to bring together groups that might not normally work together, for the greater good.
Strong communities are built through connection, opportunity, and support. Cities Strong Foundation helps strengthen the neighborhood ecosystem by connecting families and youth with trusted partners, leadership opportunities, and community networks that build resilience.
We focus on creating the conditions that support mental and emotional health—helping young people develop leadership skills, connecting neighbors, and ensuring families know how to access the right resources when they need them. Working alongside partners and local service providers, we help normalize conversations around mental health and guide residents toward licensed professionals and community-based supports.
By strengthening social capital, mentorship, and access to care, we help families build the resilience needed to thrive.
For families in the most underserved zip codes, access to mental health services can be limited for a number of reasons, but research shows that one supportive adult can dramatically improve a child’s mental and emotional health. By partnering with the EveryDay Strong program, we’re able to provide classes that teach communication skills and offer family support tools to enhance emotional well-being and improve the home environment.
These classes are taught by myHometown at 17+ Community Resource Centers along the Wasatch Front in communities where more caring adults are needed to support kids.
Strong communities start with resilient young people. Through our school-based partnership with Leader in Me, we help students develop leadership, proactivity, and personal accountability—skills that strengthen resilience and emotional well-being. This evidence-based framework empowers students to set goals, work together, and take ownership of their learning while creating school cultures built on trust and belonging.
Schools implementing Leader in Me have seen significant improvements in school climate, student behavior, and engagement, helping young people develop the confidence and character needed to thrive in school and in life.
We are not mental health providers, but we see the incredible work happening in partner agencies and have made it our mission to find ways to support these efforts financially and operationally. That means we’re looking for ways to combine resources and create partnerships to improve mental health outcomes in the most underserved neighborhoods in Utah.
To succeed, these programs and families need your support. Supporting the mental health of children and families in Utah helps break generational cycles of poverty and struggle.
Volunteer: We need neighbors who are willing to help. There are programs in place, we just need you! Find volunteer opportunities here.
Donate: Your donation helps fund programs and provide materials critical to these mental health programs for Utah students. Donate today!
SafeUT gives you and your child instant access to licensed counselors 24/7—whether you need advice, your child needs someone to talk to, or you have a safety concern. Through chat, call, or tips, you can get real support, fast, and connect to the right help when it matters most. Learn more and connect here.
