HIF invests in Community-based Mental Health Initiative to allow for program expansion and evaluation.

2020 was a hard year for all of us and 2021 looks to continue to be a trying time but there is a light at the end of this COVID-tunnel!  While all of us had to pivot, flex, and adapt in some form, many members of our community were hit much harder.  In particular, our Latino community in Montgomery County have been devastated by the pandemic. Through our Emerging Needs investment cycle, HIF was able to provide early support to Identity, based in Gaithersburg, to allow for the evaluation and expansion of their community-based mental health initiative to respond to this dire need. The community mental health project evaluation work will include collaboration with a team of researchers from the University of Maryland School of Public Health. HIF is proud to invest in community-based nonprofits who are able to offer trusted, culturally-competent programming!  

In Montgomery County, we are fortunate to have reliable community partners who were ready to implement community-based programming to allow for a safe space to heal and thrive.  Early in the pandemic, Identity realized that they would need to accelerate the growth of their mental health support groups by training their non-clinical staff and volunteer parent Promotoras.  Promotoras are Latino community members who receive specialized training to provide basic health education and support.  They are trained by Identity to provide active listening, trauma-informed coping mechanisms, management of stress, anxiety, grief, and supports for children. 

To learn more about Identity and their wide variety of amazing programming, visit their website at identity-youth.org.

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To receive additional information about this program or about HIF’s grant investments, please contact Director of Grants and Community Impact at [email protected].