The recipient entity's physical address:
           1 S. Dearborn, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           1 S. Dearborn, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Limited Liability Company

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Kooth USA LLC is a single-member limited liability company, with Kooth PLC serving as it's sole member and maintaining 100% ownership and control over the entity.

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  7225

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $1,000,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           All individuals listed below are associated with Kooth USA LLC and have a business address of:
1 S. Dearborn Street, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603

Governing Board
Kate Newhouse, Chief Executive Officer
Sanjay Jawa, Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Patrick Johnston, Chief Operating Officer
Carla Garza, Vice President of Finance

Officers and Executive Leadership Responsible for Operations
Kate Newhouse, Chief Executive Officer
Fred Bendana, Chief Commercial Officer
Sanjay Jawa, Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Patrick Johnston, Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer
Kate Beihl, Chief Marketing Officer
Kurt Seefeld, Chief Product and Technology Officer
Carla Garza, Vice President of Finance

Key Personnel Responsible for Program Implementation and Functions
Rafael Campos, Vice President, Account Management & Partnerships
Patrick Lambert, Vice President, Engineering
Danielle Carillo, Vice President, Marketing
Lorrie Evans, Vice President, Service Delivery
Beth Pausic, Vice President, Clinical Excellence

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Kooth USA LLC proposes to implement Soluna, a prevention-focused, population-level digital behavioral health service providing access to up to 40,000 high school-aged youth (approximately ages 14-18) across selected Louisiana parishes.

Soluna is designed to strengthen youth wellbeing through early engagement, resilience building, and accessible support before challenges escalate. The service provides four integrated pathways: self-support tools that build coping skills and emotional awareness; moderated peer support that fosters connection and reduces isolation; professional support delivered by trained personnel; and community support that connects youth to local low cost and no cost resources addressing broader needs.

The program emphasizes skill development, including the ability to manage stress, build healthy relationships, and navigate digital environments safely. These capabilities are increasingly relevant as youth spend more time online and face evolving social and behavioral health risks, including those associated with substance use.

Services are available outside traditional hours, including evenings and weekends, to ensure accessibility for youth who may not engage with existing systems. Outreach and awareness activities will be conducted to support utilization and ensure youth and families are informed of available services.

All services are delivered by employed staff under structured clinical supervision, with established safeguarding, escalation, and referral protocols. The program operates as part of the broader behavioral health continuum, strengthening prevention and early intervention capacity at scale.

Kooth USA LLC will provide aggregated, de-identified reporting to support transparency and program oversight, consistent with applicable privacy and data protection requirements. The service will be provided at no cost to youth or their families and will not bill insurance.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $650,000
          Professional Services. . . $50,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $200,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $100,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The public purpose of this program is to expand access to prevention-focused behavioral health support for youth, strengthen resilience, and reduce unmet need across selected Louisiana parishes, including rural and underserved communities.

Youth in many areas of the state, particularly in rural regions, face barriers to accessing timely behavioral health support, including provider shortages, transportation challenges, and limited availability outside standard hours. A population-level, digital service provides a consistent and accessible entry point for support regardless of geography.

The program is intended to promote early engagement and equip youth with practical skills to manage stress, build resilience, and make informed decisions. This includes supporting protective factors associated with reduced risk of substance use and other adverse outcomes, as well as helping youth navigate digital spaces in a safe and healthy manner.

State investment supports a prevention-oriented approach that strengthens the overall behavioral health system by enabling earlier access to support and more appropriate use of higher-acuity services when needed. The program also includes structured outreach and awareness efforts to ensure equitable access and informed utilization across participating parishes.

All services will be delivered in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and privacy requirements, with appropriate reporting and oversight to ensure accountability in the use of public funds. The program will be provided at no cost to youth and families and will not bill insurance.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Goal 1: Expand Equitable Access to Prevention-Focused Support through Soluna
- Provide access to Soluna for up to 40,000 youth ages 14-18 across selected parishes through a single, secure, online platform
- Ensure availability outside of standard hours, including evenings and weekends, to address access gaps, particularly in rural communities
- Conduct outreach and awareness activities to support equitable utilization of a digital, population-level service

Goal 2: Strengthen Youth Resilience and Early Skill Development
- Equip youth with tools to manage stress, build coping strategies, and support emotional wellbeing through digital self-support resources
- Provide opportunities for connection through pre-moderated peer support and engagement with trained professionals in a structured online environment
- Support development of skills to navigate digital environments safely and responsibly

Goal 3: Support Prevention and Risk Reduction
- Enable early, low-barrier digital access to support before needs escalate
- Reinforce protective factors associated with reduced behavioral health risks, including substance use
- Maintain clear protocols for identifying higher-risk situations and facilitating connection to appropriate services

Goal 4: Strengthen System Capacity and Appropriate Utilization
- Provide a scalable, digital entry point for behavioral health support at the population level
- Support more efficient use of higher-acuity services by enabling earlier intervention
- Connect youth to local low cost and no cost community resources addressing social and environmental factors

Goal 5: Ensure Accountability, Quality, and Oversight
- Deliver services through trained, supervised staff within a governed digital infrastructure, with established safeguarding and clinical governance protocols
- Provide aggregated, de-identified reporting to support program monitoring and transparency
- Maintain compliance with applicable privacy, data protection, and regulatory standards

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           12 months

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                 

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Stefanie Bolotin 
                                       address:  1 S. Dearborn, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603
                                       phone:  412-841-0649
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  sbolotin@kooth.com
                                       relationship to entity:  VP, Growth & Government Affairs