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By Dayna Reyes, Reporter

MERCEDES, Texas — In a major boost for regional workforce development and student well-being, the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) has secured a $300,000 grant to embed evidence-based mental health support directly into its student coaching model.

The two-year grant, awarded by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM), will fund an innovative partnership with researchers from Harvard Medical School. Together, they will implement “EMPOWER”—a specialized model that trains frontline staff to deliver psychosocial interventions for depression through a method called Behavioral Activation.

Supported by digital tools, the EMPOWER model is designed to expand access to mental health support in underserved areas without requiring local organizations to build complex mental health programs from scratch or employ full-time licensed behavioral health providers.

For VIDA, this means its career counselors—who already work hand-in-hand with participants to navigate personal, financial, and academic hurdles—will receive specialized training to recognize mental health struggles and provide research-backed guidance to help students stay on track.

“This partnership reinforces what we have always believed, that student success requires supporting the whole person,” Felida Villarreal, president and CEO of VIDA, told reporters. “Mental health challenges can create significant barriers to completing education and entering the workforce. By integrating evidence-based behavioral health practices into our existing support model, we can better equip our participants to overcome those barriers and achieve lasting economic mobility.”

The collaboration aims to do more than just help local students; it will also contribute to a growing national body of research exploring how evidence-based mental health interventions can directly improve educational attainment and long-term career outcomes. By teaming up with Harvard researchers, VIDA is helping prove that workforce organizations can successfully bridge the gap in communities where local behavioral health resources are often stretched thin.

Villarreal expressed deep appreciation for the investment, noting that the funding allows VIDA to elevate its day-to-day operations while contributing to systemic solutions.

“We are deeply grateful to Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas for investing in this innovative initiative,” Villarreal said. “Their support allows us to strengthen the services we provide today while helping shape new approaches that can improve lives far beyond the Rio Grande Valley.”

For over three decades, VIDA has been a pillar of economic mobility in the region, empowering low-income residents through comprehensive services like tuition assistance, career counseling, financial support, and direct employer pipelines. The addition of the EMPOWER framework builds heavily upon VIDA’s nationally recognized wraparound service model, adding a vital layer of mental resilience to its traditional workforce training.

The impact of VIDA’s localized approach is already backed by strong metrics. In 2025, the organization served 879 participants, boasting a staggering 98% persistence rate. Furthermore, its graduates secured local employment with average annual earnings exceeding $52,894—a transformative figure for many families in the Valley.

The grant alignment matches the core mission of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, which stands as the largest private funding source dedicated to improving the health of uninsured and low-income families across 74 counties in South Texas. MHM focuses its strategic grant-making on advancing health equity by targeting the broader social factors that influence overall community well-being.