MDW Cares Awarded Mental Health Grant from the St. Charles 708 Mental Health Board

We are excited to share that MDW Cares has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the St. Charles 708 Mental Health Board to support our Divorce Recovery & Mental Health Stabilization Program. This funding will help us continue providing education, connection, and mental health support for women navigating one of life's most challenging transitions.

Divorce is often talked about as a legal process, but anyone who has lived through it knows it touches every part of a person's life. It can impact mental health, parenting, finances, housing, relationships, and a person's sense of identity. Through our work at MDW Cares, we've seen firsthand how important it is for women to have access to trusted resources and a supportive community while navigating these changes.

Since launching our divorce-focused programming, we've served dozens of women through workshops, educational events, and peer support opportunities. What began as a single event quickly revealed a larger need. Women weren't just looking for information; they were looking for connection, practical tools, and reassurance that they weren't facing these challenges alone.

This grant will allow MDW Cares to continue building that support system for women in the St. Charles community. Funding will be used to expand educational programming focused on topics such as communication during co-parenting, managing emotional triggers, financial recovery after divorce, parenting transitions, and maintaining mental health during prolonged legal or family changes. It will also support the creation of follow-up resources and ongoing touchpoints that help women stay connected to support long after attending an initial workshop.

While mental health support remains at the heart of this work, we also recognize that emotional well-being is deeply connected to the practical realities women face during divorce. By providing both education and community connection, we hope to help participants feel more informed, more supported, and better equipped to navigate the next chapter of their lives.

We are deeply grateful to the St. Charles 708 Mental Health Board for recognizing the importance of community-based mental health support and for investing in programs that help residents access resources before challenges escalate into crisis.

As a young nonprofit, every investment in our work helps us expand our reach and strengthen the support available to local women and families. We look forward to sharing updates as this program continues to grow and evolve throughout the year.

Thank you to everyone who has attended a workshop, shared a resource, volunteered their time, or encouraged someone to reach out for support. This work belongs to all of us, and we are honored to continue building it together.

If you would like to donate to help further our work, please visit our donation page!

Elizabeth Rago

MDW Cares Founder and Executive Director