In late 2021, after Caroline Simmons was elected the city’s mayor, she held a series of advisory group meetings including one that touched on youth mental health. 

“The question was raised, ‘What can we do?’” said Vin Tufo, a leader of the Vita Health & Wellness Partnership and CEO of Charter Oak Communities, the city’s public housing authority. 

The discussion that followed ultimately led to the creation of a new group, the Youth Mental Health Alliance, a collaboration and partnership between more than 20 organizations in the city including the mayor’s office, the school district and police department.