SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County has received a $200,000 grant from the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara to fund its school-based mental health program over the 2026- 27 and 2027-28 academic years. The two-year gap funding will enable FSA to continue to provide mental health screenings, crisis response, and counseling for local students.
FSA’s mental health therapists provide no-cost services on campus at schools in south county school districts. Providing services on campus allows FSA therapists to work with children in an environment that is familiar and comfortable to them, as well as collaborate with teaching staff, faculty, and families to build systems that support student’s mental health. This new funding will deepen FSA’s capacity to address the mental health crisis affecting local youth, providing immediate support during crises and ongoing therapeutic services to students in need.
“This grant from the Women’s Fund arrives at a critical moment,” said Lisa Brabo, Executive Director of Family Service Agency. “As nonprofits navigate unprecedented federal funding cuts, partnerships like this one prove that collective community action can meet our young people’s most urgent needs. We’re grateful to join with the Women’s Fund and other local leaders who understand that equitable access to mental health support isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.”
The grant announcement came as the Women’s Fund distributed a record $1.275 million to 10 local nonprofits on May 13, 2026, during its 22nd annual Celebration of Grants at the Lobero Theatre. Since its founding in 2004, the Women’s Fund has awarded over $14 million to south Santa Barbara County nonprofits addressing critical community needs.
“We’re honored to be part of this year’s Women’s Fund cohort,” Brabo continued. “The work being done by our fellow grantees represents the some of the best of what our nonprofit sector has to offer. I have tremendous respect for the expertise and professionalism these organizations bring to their missions.
Collective giving at this scale creates real change. Congratulations to every organization selected.”
About Family Service Agency
Founded in 1899, Family Service Agency is one of Santa Barbara County’s oldest and most comprehensivenonprofit social service organizations. FSA provides essential mental health services, youth and family support, services for older adults and caregivers, and basic needs resources to individuals of all backgrounds across the county. For more information, visit www.fsacares.org