Jess Howard highlights the Therapy Fund Foundations’ Upcoming Events
Last week on The Day with Trae, guest host Deaunte Damper sat down with Jessie Howard, the Director of Community Engagement at the Therapy Fund Foundation, a Washington-based nonprofit focused on "eliminating barriers to Black healing" and providing mental health services and resources for the Black community, free of charge. Recently, the organization partnered with Pierce County Health Department to provide mental health services for youth who are being directly affected by the Fentanyl crisis.
"This was an opportunity for four to five students within Pierce County High Schools to talk about how they've been affected mentally," Howard said.
Students were able to share their experiences on how they've been impacted by the presence of fentanyl in their community, as well as meet speakers who have lost their loved ones due to overdoses.
"To be able to offer mental health resources as well as say "this is Narcan, this is how you use it to save a life," Howard said. "I think that was the best thing for us all in that space."
Currently, the organization is busy setting up outreach and community events, with the soonest one being a listening session on January 30 at 6 pm.
"It's going to be an opportunity for us to be able to listen in and how we can support the community and what black families really need to be well," Howard said.
Lastly, Howard highlights the Therapy Fund Foundation's big plan for the summer. On July 26, the organization will present Reclaiming Wellness 2024, a "behavioral health conference and resource fair dedicated toward decolonizing therapeutic practices and improving mental health outcomes for communities of color."
This conference is the only kind on the West Coast and will focus on improving mental health outcomes in BIPOC communities by utilizing the voices of BIPOC people. Additionally, all Workshops will be instructed by BIPOC mental health professionals trying to change the field from the inside out.
Click here to learn more about the Therapy Fund Foundation and its upcoming events.
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