The Leon Levine Foundation Grant to Support UNC’s IMPACTT-NC
The UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Improving Adolescent and Child health Through Telepsychiatry in North Carolina (IMPACTT-NC) program has received a grant for $250,000 from The Leon Levine Foundation (TLLF) to continue expansion of its programming in support of school- and community-based mental health services. This investment from TLLF will support IMPACTT-NC’s innovative model that collaborates with local school districts and community partners to reduce barriers to much-needed psychiatric care for children and adolescents across the state.
“When students access behavioral health care in a school setting, it removes obstacles and strengthens students’ well-being and ability to learn,” said Tom Lawrence, president and CEO of The Leon Levine Foundation. “IMPACTT-NC’s model will now support more children and families across North Carolina. It is a vital and important way to meet more children where they are.”
Access to behavioral health care continues to present a significant challenge for children and their families. With just 200 child psychiatrists clustered in 31 counties, North Carolina ranks 44th in the United States for access to children’s behavioral health care. School-based telehealth services increase access, improve student health and wellness, and have the potential to decrease absenteeism and improve academic achievement.
“North Carolina’s youth are struggling, and our schools present a critical opportunity to deliver essential mental health care,” said Nate Sowa, MD, PhD, director of the UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Division of Virtual Care. “But our schools also need help. This support from The Leon Levine Foundation will allow IMPACTT-NC to expand its offerings to support education and training of school staff in addition to increasing access to therapy services. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and its role in meeting the mental health needs of our state’s children and adolescents.”
Support from TLLF will allow IMPACTT-NC to further consult with schools on potential programs and platforms as well as offer training to school faculty and staff. Additionally, funds from TLLF will allow UNC to increase therapy support and empower IMPACTT-NC to expand its successful pilot programs into five new school sites for the 2026-27 school year.
Distinct from other school-based behavioral health models, IMPACTT-NC also incorporates the expertise of leading child and adolescent psychiatrists to guide implementation, provide direct care to children and families, consult with educators, and provide consultation and integration with local primary care providers.
IMPACTT-NC has a vision to see North Carolina children and adolescents easily access behavioral health care to achieve their highest potential with an overarching goal to create at least one access point for specialty level child and adolescent psychiatric services in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties by 2030.
“Accessing child and adolescent psychiatry services is incredibly difficult in many areas of our state,” said Charissa Gray, MPH, MSW, program director of IMPACTT-NC. “We are so grateful for The Leon Levine Foundation’s desire to partner with us to expand this critical access.”
About The Leon Levine Foundation
Established in 1980 by Leon Levine, founder and former chairman of Family Dollar Stores, Inc., The Leon Levine Foundation empowers underserved Carolinians to be self-sufficient and strengthens Jewish communities. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the Foundation creates impact through grants and investments across North and South Carolina, supporting both long-standing community partners and focused strategic initiatives. The Foundation is on a time-bound mission to strengthen children and families, build strong futures for hardworking adults, and cultivate vibrant Jewish communities. Guided by Mr. Levine’s vision, the Foundation’s philanthropy is anchored in four enduring areas of impact: education, healthcare, human services, and Jewish values.
About UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 17 hospitals across 20 hospital campuses and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of UNC School of Medicine. It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of UNC School of Medicine.
