MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS FOR RACIAL EQUITY

Summary

This application seeks to develop mental health groups in Overtown in
collaboration with University of Miami, Empowerment Zone Reentry Initiative
(EZRI), and Greater Bethel AME Church. Social workers from EZRI will establish
groups, combining peer support and evidence-based therapeutic practices, focused
on (1) trauma, (2) grief, and (3) transitions from prison/jail to be conducted at
Greater Bethel, located in the heart of Overtown. Our goals are to (1) build trust
and engagement among team members and collaborators and build sustainable
and meaningful partnerships; (2) identify strategies to enhance the implementation
and sustainment of mental health groups; (3) identify strategies for engaging EZRI
clients, Church congregation members, and the broader Overtown community in
the mental health groups; (4) pilot at least six groups; and (5) develop an
application for funding to National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Team

Kathryn Nowotny (Sociology and Criminology), Edward Suarez (Psychiatry)

MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS FOR RACIAL EQUITY