At the heart of every crisis is a need for connection, understanding and informed action—and that’s where CORES begins. Grounded in trauma-informed care and backed by decades of crisis response experience, our CORES initiative offers practical, real-world strategies that create lasting impact.
CORES
We invite you to explore ways you can bring mental health prevention, intervention and postvention to your community, business, organization or other group. Together, we can be a trusted support when life gets tough for all people, any time, every time.
Questions? Contact Kara Grafft, Director of Quality & Training, at kgrafft@foundation2.org or 319-362-1170.
CORES programming includes:
Companies that invest in mental health programs see a 4x return on investment due to reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and lower healthcare costs. We can help.
It’s important to feel equipped to handle questions or concerns about mental health or suicide in your community. We can help you gain the necessary skills.
We all play a role in mental health care and suicide prevention. Our free resources can help you start meaningful conversations in your community.
Sharing experiences and support with other suicide loss survivors can provide a valuable sense of community. Our free support groups provide a safe place to process grief.
Why It Matters
We all have mental health.
Mental health – sometimes called brain health – impacts all people, regardless of diagnoses. About 23.1% of U.S. adults (59.3 million) had a diagnosed mental illness in 2022. (Source) Diagnosed mental illnesses include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic dress disorder and bi-polar disorder.
Thoughts of suicide can impact anyone.
An estimated 12.8 million U.S. adults seriously thought about suicide. (Source, 2022) Adults aged 18–39 had the highest prevalence of suicidal thoughts. (Source, 2015-2019). The JED Foundation cites that 41.0% of LGBTQ+ high schoolers seriously considered suicide in the past year. (Source, 2025)
Everyone plays a role in suicide prevention.
Social support is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of suicide deaths. People with higher social support had about 32% lower odds of a lifetime suicide attempt. (Source) Additionally, increased connectedness at the community level is associated with better mental health and lower suicide risk. (Source)
Employee mental health impacts the workplace.
87% of workers have had at least one mental health experience that interfered with work. Additionally, 65% of U.S. workers said their mental health affected their ability to do their job. (Source) When employers prioritize employee mental health, they can see benefits including reduced turn-over, higher productivity and less burn-out.
Faith communities play a role in mental health care.
In one study, 60% of adult respondents said faith or spirituality is an important factor in their mental wellness. Additionally, 57% of those in a religious community say they would reach out to a faith leader if they were struggling with mental health. (Source) Our Community Wellness trainings are a good fit for faith communities, schools, volunteer groups and other community organizations.
CORES Pillars
Community Strength & Compassion
CORES is focused on building stronger, more caring communities where people look out for one another’s mental well-being.
Education & Empowerment
Through training and knowledge-sharing, CORES equips individuals and groups with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health and suicide-related challenges.
Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Awareness
The initiative works to create suicide-safer communities by reducing stigma and encouraging open, informed conversations about mental health.
Trauma-Informed, Experience-Driven Approach
CORES is grounded in trauma-informed care and the real-world experience of Foundation 2 Crisis Services, ensuring programs are practical, compassionate and effective.
Connection & Support in Crisis
At the center of CORES is the belief that connection, understanding and action are essential to helping people through moments of crisis.