Youth Mental Health: Justice, Culture & Healing with Rich Havard | Decolonizing Wealth Project

Culture as Medicine: A New Approach to Youth Mental Health

The landscape of youth mental health is undergoing a significant shift, moving beyond traditional clinical models to embrace culturally responsive care. A growing recognition that systemic challenges and intersecting identities profoundly impact mental wellbeing has spurred innovative funding initiatives, like the Decolonizing Wealth Project’s Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF). This $20 million fund, launched in 2025, represents a bold investment in supporting organizations and Tribes offering tailored mental health services to young people aged 10 to 24. The fund’s approach centers on the belief that integrating culture, storytelling, and a commitment to justice can fundamentally transform youth mental healthcare.

Rich Havard, Director of the YMHF, embodies this transformative vision. His personal journey, from a closeted gay youth in rural Mississippi to leading a major philanthropic initiative, underscores the urgent need for inclusive spaces and culturally sensitive support systems. Havard’s experiences, shaped by both healing and harmful church experiences, have fueled his dedication to elevating youth voices and ensuring that philanthropy prioritizes culturally responsive care. The YMHF isn’t simply about providing access to mental health services; it’s about addressing the root causes of distress and empowering young people to shape their own solutions.

Addressing a Critical Need

The YMHF was established to address a glaring gap in mental health services. According to the Decolonizing Wealth Project, 50% of LGBTQ youth who sought mental health support were unable to receive it in 2025. This statistic highlights the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing appropriate care. The fund aims to change this by providing a minimum of $5 million annually to organizations working directly with youth, with additional funding allocated to capacity building and strengthening the broader ecosystem of support. The fund’s decisions are guided by an Advisory Committee comprised of mental health experts and, crucially, youth themselves, ensuring that lived experiences are central to the allocation of resources.

The focus on culturally responsive care is paramount. Traditional mental health approaches often fail to account for the unique challenges faced by young people navigating intersecting identities – race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and more. These identities shape individual experiences of trauma, discrimination, and resilience, and effective mental health interventions must acknowledge and address these complexities. The YMHF recognizes that “culture as medicine” – leveraging cultural strengths and traditions to promote healing – is a vital component of holistic wellbeing.

Year One Impact and Grantee Partners

The initial cohort of grantees, announced in 2025, demonstrates the breadth of the YMHF’s impact. A total of 34 organizations received $5.07 million in funding. These organizations represent a diverse range of approaches, from providing direct mental health services to advocating for policy changes and building community resilience. Some of the organizations awarded funding include Future Focused Education, Urban Peace Movement – Oakland, Homeless Children’s Network, Ali Forney Center, and the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. Further details on the Year 1 cohort can be found on the Decolonizing Wealth Project website.

The Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects, National Collaborative for Transformational Youth Policy, Baltimore Safe Haven, and Hale Kipa, Inc. Are also among the organizations receiving support. These grantees are working on the front lines to address the mental health needs of vulnerable youth populations, providing culturally tailored services and advocating for systemic change. The AAKOMA Project, dedicated to improving the mental health of youth of color, is another key partner, offering culturally competent care and promoting mental health literacy within communities. More information about The AAKOMA Project is available on their website.

Beyond Funding: Elevating Youth Voices and Reframing the Narrative

The YMHF’s impact extends beyond financial support. A core principle of the fund is the elevation of youth voices in decision-making processes. With 33% youth representation on the YMHF Advisory Committee, young people are actively shaping the direction of the fund and ensuring that resources are allocated in ways that truly meet their needs. This commitment to youth leadership reflects a broader shift in the field of mental health, recognizing that young people are not simply recipients of care but active agents of change.

Havard emphasizes reframing youth mental health as an issue of both justice and connection. He argues that mental health challenges are often rooted in systemic inequities and social injustices, and that addressing these underlying issues is essential for promoting wellbeing. He highlights the importance of fostering connection – to community, to culture, and to oneself – as a protective factor against mental health struggles. This holistic approach recognizes that mental health is not simply the absence of illness but a state of flourishing that requires addressing the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of young people.

Decolonizing Wealth and the Future of Philanthropy

The YMHF is an initiative of the Decolonizing Wealth Project, an organization founded by Edgar Villanueva, author of the book Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom and the Healing of Economies. Villanueva’s work challenges traditional philanthropic models, advocating for a shift towards more equitable and culturally responsive funding practices. The Decolonizing Wealth Project seeks to dismantle the systemic barriers that perpetuate wealth inequality and to create a more just and equitable society. The YMHF is a concrete example of this vision in action, demonstrating how philanthropy can be used to empower marginalized communities and promote healing.

The fund’s success hinges on continued collaboration and investment. As the YMHF expands its reach and impact, it will be crucial to maintain a focus on cultural responsiveness, youth leadership, and systemic change. The challenges facing young people today are complex and multifaceted, and addressing them requires a collective effort. By prioritizing the wellbeing of young people and investing in culturally informed solutions, You can create a future where all youth have the opportunity to thrive.

The Decolonizing Wealth Project will continue to announce funding opportunities and share updates on the YMHF’s progress. Those interested in learning more or getting involved can contact the Decolonizing Wealth Project team through their website. You can also follow Rich Havard on LinkedIn and the Decolonizing Wealth Project on LinkedIn and Instagram.

The next major update from the Decolonizing Wealth Project regarding the YMHF is expected in late summer 2026, when they will release a comprehensive report on the Year 2 grant recipients. We encourage readers to share this article and join the conversation about culturally responsive youth mental health care.