Credit: Potter’s House
The Hogg Foundation has awarded $350,000 to 11 faith-based organizations in support of their continued efforts to educate communities about mental health, recovery and wellness, with a new focus on addressing the mental health impacts and trauma resulting from disasters such as Hurricane Harvey.
Research shows that the mental health implications of disasters can be deep and long-lasting. Churches and other faith organizations play a key role in providing comfort and support to people who are impacted by natural disasters and other crises. These funds will support grantees in the hurricane-affected areas and disaster response activities more generally.
The new funds are also consistent with the Hogg Foundation’s new strategic direction, which gives it a mandate to ensure that communities across Texas have the resources and support they need to be fully resilient in the face of catastrophic events.
Here’s a look at how the grantees plan to use the funds:
- Alliance for Greater Works (Grand Prairie) will continue in its role of coordinator for the other grantees in this initiative, while also developing a comprehensive youth engagement strategy that will identify the signs and symptoms of trauma in youth and help adolescents who are experiencing crisis as a result of natural disasters or other stressful events.
- Bible Way Fellowship Baptist Church (Houston) will work through its health ministry to conduct focus groups and outreach events for the Houston areas most impacted by the recent flooding.
- Concord Church (Dallas) will continue to provide programs, events and trainings that address the need to increase mental health awareness, while also providing mental health support during stressful events and natural disasters.
- Dallas City Temple Seven Day Adventist Church (Dallas) will provide advocacy for individuals who are threatened by deportation; will conduct activities to increase mental health resilience among adolescents; and will provide direct financial assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
- God’s Way Christian Baptist Church (Taylor) will collaborate with other organizations to hold a health fair; hold youth-oriented events for prevention of suicide and substance use; and host the Community Strong conference for clergy and community leaders.
- Greater Mount Tabor Christian Center (Fort Worth) will assign Mental Consultants and Mental Health Navigators to work closely with pastors, congregants and community members to ensure proper education and resources are offered to individuals affected by Hurricane Harvey.
- Metroplex Economic Development Corporation (Dallas) will offer Mental Health First Aid Training to local and regional faith-based and social service organizations, and continue to utilize the Potter’s House Counseling Center including support of those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
- Missouri City Baptist Church (Missouri City) will work to connect individuals with mental health resources and services, issue a survey to enable participants to identify areas of need, and present workshops to enable participants to recover from the hurricane.
- Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church (Houston) will organize various events and the Prayer with a Purpose summit to bring together the greater Houston faith-based community with a focus on increasing the flow of resources to the northeast sector, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
- Wheeler Avenue Central City Comprehensive Community Center (Houston) will hold a major event in spring of 2018 that will bring together a cross-section of the community (professionals, congregants, consumers, youth and families) to address issues related to mental health, emphasizing trauma and post-Harvey recovery.
- Windsor Village United Methodist Church (Houston) will launch the Heart of the Healer program to engage health ministry leaders in raising awareness of mental health issues among clergy; convene the Hope and Justice Outreach seminars for criminal justice professionals, advocates and formerly incarcerated people; and offer Mental Health First Aid trainings.
Learn more about the history and goals of this grant initiative.