Continuing our work in addressing the needs of BIPOC communities with CVS Health Foundation-backed microgrants

MHA Admin

Mon, 10/17/2022 – 12:24

by Allissa Torres, Director of Mental Health Equity

Mental Health America (MHA) is devoted to equity for all and continues to expand access to and increase mental health literacy in communities that historically have experienced barriers in obtaining the support they deserve when and how they need it most. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities have unique experiences and perspectives that necessitate culturally responsive mental health care and education. To further address the needs of and engage with BIPOC communities, MHA regularly creates mental health awareness initiatives aimed at highlighting and responding to the needs of these communities.

Through the generous support of the CVS Health Foundation, MHA is pleased to continue our work in addressing the needs of BIPOC communities by distributing ten microgrants to select MHA affiliates to support the mental health of individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in their respective regions.

Each recipient of this microgrant will utilize the funds to provide mental health support to BIPOC communities in their area through one or more of the following ways: promoting mental health screenings, providing culturally responsive education, or increasing community outreach and engagement.

MHA is pleased to announce the following affiliate organizations as the 2022 BIPOC microgrant recipients:

FARRR Foundation dba The Lighthouse Community Health Services: The Lighthouse will conduct outreach to BIPOC individuals without consistent access to health care by expanding access to, and utilization of, primary care and behavioral health care services.
Mental Health America of Dubuque County (MHA DBQ): MHA DBQ will translate educational materials into Marshallese and conduct outreach to Marshallese and Pacific Islander communities to increase mental health awareness and reduce stigma.
Mental Health America of Utah: MHA of Utah will host a “Community Conversation” event to engage with and understand needs and challenges of BIPOC in their community, while increasing mental health awareness through the distribution of BIPOC-focused educational resources.
Mental Health Association in Delaware: MHA in Delaware will conduct a peer-led BIPOC Wellness Group and host BIPOC presenters for their “Empowering Community Wellness” symposium.
Mental Health Association of East Tennessee: MHA of East Tennessee will provide linguistically and culturally responsive education for BIPOC communities via newly created materials, translation, videos, and a social media campaign.
Mental Health Association of Erie County dba Mental Health Advocates of Western New York (MHAWNY): MHAWNY will host a poetry slam and open mic event focused on the intersection of mental health and creativity, offering a safe space for individuals to come and talk about their mental health and receive resources or take a screen.
Mental Health Association of Monmouth County: MHA of Monmouth Country will host a health and wellness event to promote screenings and information on mental health education, parenting, business, and health care.
Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHASF): MHASF will host a “Real Talk” online event to highlight the mental health needs of BIPOC communities and provide access to resources such as support groups and the California Peer Run Warmline.
Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM): MHAM will host a “Mental Health Summit” highlighting culturally responsive supports for BIPOC communities, mental health screenings, and other educational resources in English and Spanish.
Rahma Worldwide – Mental Health America in Southeastern Michigan: Rahma Worldwide will provide support to Arab communities by translating and adapting mental health education materials and conducting various workshops on health and wellness.

For more information on how to support the mental health needs of BIPOC communities, download the BIPOC Mental Health Month toolkit at mhanational.org/bipocmhm.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Capital City Emergency “Level II” Trauma & Wellness Center will house a “state of the art” Outreach Community Resource Center, that will provide case management, mental health community advocacy, and oversight from the M.I. Mother’s Keeper mental health advocates. 
 
The Capital City Emergency “Level II” Trauma & Wellness Center will offer patrons access to immediate coverage by general surgeons as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care.
 
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible in an effort to preserve and to save more lives in the Nation’s Capital and beyond.

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Emergency

Code Red
Gunshot Victim
Life Threatening Wounds
Physical Assault Victim
Severely Injured Auto Accident Victim
Burn Victim
Epilepsy/Seizures
Cardiovascular
Choking & Breathing Obstructions
and more…

trauma

Child Sex Assault Victim
Domestic Violence Victim
Drug Overdose
Rape/Sex Crime Victim
Suicide Watch
Trafficking Victim
Nervous Breakdown
and more…

Mental Health

At Capital City Emergency Trauma & Wellness Center patrons with mental health emergencies that include life threatening situations in which an individual is imminently threatening harm to self or others, severely disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a severe inability to function or is otherwise distraught and out of control, will have access to quality and psychiatric emergency services and referrals.

Physical Health

Whether your life threatening medical emergency involves excessive or uncontrollable bleeding, head injury. difficulty with breathing, severe pain, heart attack, vision impairments, stroke, physically collapsing, or seizure related, rest assured that our professionals will properly assess and evaluate the level of response that will be most needed to help provide stabilized care solutions and minimize complications as well as reduce early mortality.

Holistic Healthcare

We offer healthcare solutions that will support the whole person which includes their physical, psychological, emotional, social, & spiritual wellbeing. Research supports that because your mental state can affect your overall health we support and offer the inclusion of complimentary and alternative medicine(CAM) practitioners and naturopathic doctor recommendations and referrals as a part of our Outreach Community Resource Center’s care regimen and support.

Rehabilitative

Emergency care can typically result in traumatic injuries for which rehabilitation becomes an essential component of care in trying to achieve the best long-term outcomes for the patient. In addition to speeding up recovery times and helping to prevent further complications, rehabilitative care also helps to support a patient’s self-managed recovery once discharged from our facility. Our Outreach Community Resource Center works closely with our trauma center’s discharge department to assure that patrons requiring these services are linked with qualified professionals who will be accountable to the standard of care required to help the patron be successful in their recovery.

Social Services

Our “state of the art” Outreach Community Resource Center intends to promote “expansive” beneficial community enriching services, programs, case management, & linkage to “approved” partner resources and supports in all of the following intended areas and more:

Social Services

  • Clothing
  • Food Pantry
  • Housing/Shelter
  • I.D. Credentials
  • Senior Wellness Check
  • Toiletries
  • Transportation
  • Etc.

Extended Family Services

  • Child Care
  • Credit Counseling
  • Family Court Services
  • Legal Aide

Career Training

  • Apprenticeship programs
  • Computer/Graphics Training
  • Culinary Program  
  • GED Courses
  • Hospitality Training
  • Job Etiquette & Grooming
  • Resume’ Prep
  • Sales Training
  • Software/Technology workshops
  • Small Business Training

Return Citizen
Program Partner
(Bridging the Gap)

  • Case Management
  • Temporary Boarding/Housing
  • Transitional Program Registration

Prevention/Intervention Outreach,
Workshops, & Programs

  • After-school Behavioral Health Program
  • Civic Engagement / Volunteer Sign-up
  • Fatherhood Rites of Passage
  • Gun Violence Town Hall Forum
  • Life Coaching & Coping Strategies
  • Marriage Counseling Workshops
  • Medicare Informational Workshops
  • Mentorship Training
  • Parental Classes
  • Support Groups
  • Town Hall Discussions
  • Violence De-Escalation Training
  • Voter Registration

Nutritional Outreach

  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Dietary Programs
  • Exercise Classes
  • Recipe Sharing Workshops
  • Meal Prep

Community Outreach

The Healthy DC & Me Leadership Coalition is partnering with the M.I. Mother’s Keeper Mental Health advocacy organization to provide outreach services on the community level as an aid in reducing the existent health inequities that many District citizens are facing as a direct result of the presence of debilitating social determinants and the lack of culturally appropriate care choices and realities for community members residing in marginalized and lower-income communities.

It is the vision and intentions of the M.I. Mother’s Keeper Mental Health Advocates organization to help improve the quality of living for citizens living in our Nation’s Capital and beyond by overseeing the delicate linkage to services and by maintaining higher standards of care accountability for deserving citizens of the Nation’s Capital.

For more information or to enroll as one of our service providers, please email us at:
info@healthydcandme.org