AUSTIN, Texas – The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at The University of Texas at Austin is proud to announce that it has awarded $946,600 in grants to 11 faith-based organizations in Texas to increase awareness and perceptions of mental health, recovery and wellness in African American communities. The goals of this initiative are to build on the unique strengths of churches and other faith-based organizations in African American communities to identify and connect congregants with local behavioral resources for treatment and support. An additional goal is to support faith leaders in addressing their own mental wellness.
Ten of the organizations will each receive between $65,000 and $82,000, to be distributed over three years. The foundation also selected one organization to coordinate the efforts statewide. The grant funds will be used by the organizations to develop or enhance their health ministries to include a mental health component.
In recent years, the Hogg Foundation has been exploring the significant role faith plays in the lives of African Americans. Although one in four individuals will experience a mental health condition during his or her lifetime, studies show that only half of African American adults experiencing mental health conditions seek treatment. In times of emotional distress, evidence has shown African Americans draw support from their faith, family and communities. Faith communities thus have a crucial role to play in addressing mental health recovery and wellness.
“African American faith-based leaders are becoming increasingly proactive on mental health issues,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation and associate vice president for diversity and community engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. “The response to the announcement of this grant initiative has been positive, showing that faith-based communities are deeply interested in becoming educated leaders around mental health, recovery and wellness.”
The 2014 Faith-Based Initiative for African American Mental Health Education grant awardees are:
- Alliance for Greater Works (Coordinator, Grand Prairie – $180,000)
- Bible Way Fellowship Baptist Church (Houston – $79,400)
- Concord Church (Dallas – $78,000)
- Dallas City Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church (Dallas – $77,000)
- Great Mt. Tabor Christian Center (Fort Worth – $75,000)
- God’s Way Christian Baptist Church (Taylor – $79,000)
- Metroplex Economic Development Corporation (Dallas – $78,000)
- Missouri City Baptist Church (Missouri City – $65,000)
- Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church (Houston – $79,000)
- Wheeler Avenue Central City Comprehensive Community Center (Houston – $81,000)
- Windsor Village United Methodist Church (Houston – $70,000)
The Hogg Foundation advances recovery and wellness in Texas by supporting mental health
services, policy analysis, research and public education. The foundation was created in 1940 by
the children of former Texas Gov. James S. Hogg and is part of the Division of Diversity and
Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin.