AUSTIN, Texas – The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health is pleased to announce that it has awarded $20,000 for the Central Texas African American Healthy Minds grants. Eight organizations, four representing adults and four representing youth, have been chosen for this special opportunity. The goal is to support mental health and wellness among African Americans in the Central Texas Area.
The Healthy Minds project was launched in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference (CTAAFSC), which took place in Austin on February 11-12, 2020. CTAAFSC is an annual convening that explores health solutions, fosters relationships and works to reduce stigma and increase access to care for the African American community. This year’s conference also overlapped with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Hogg Foundation, which has been integrally involved with the conference throughout its history and was a gold sponsor of this year’s event.
“The Healthy Minds grants are in keeping with the spirit of the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation. “Our involvement with the African American community in our own backyard has helped shape who we are as a statewide funder.”
The 2020 Healthy Minds grantees are:
- Austin Area Mental Health Consumers. To provide direct 1:1 peer services and community awareness activities and events to educate African Americans on mental health, wellness resources and recovery.
- Austin Area Urban League. To host community forums, focus groups, and presentations about community needs and resources to support mental health, stress and wellness of African Americans in the Austin area.
- Building Promises. To support the A Cut Above program, an after-school initiative designed for black and brown middle schoolboys (11-15) from low-income neighborhoods. The program is enhanced by restorative practices that strengthen interpersonal communication, builds a caring community of learners, and improves self-efficacy.
- Excellence and Advancement Foundation. To support the You’re Not Alone Fellowship, which focuses on education about suicide prevention through presentations, workshops and wellness opportunities for students at Huston-TIllotson University and Austin area African American teens.
- God’s Way Christian Fellowship. To educate African American youth in rural Williamson county and their families on the impact of poverty and how to recognize signs and symptoms of trauma; develop coping mechanisms and promote resiliency.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. To offer no-cost, peer-led programs, including the Family and Friends workshop and Bridges to Hope training for faith leaders with David’s Chapel in Austin, Texas.
- Sickle Cell Association of Texas. To provide monthly in-person support groups to foster mental health and peer support, and case management to support holistic care for individuals living with sickle cell and their families.
- Whatsinthemirror? To support the Without Color Project, which will provide awareness and education to parents, educators, and healthcare providers on the condition of Albinism, as well as provide mentorship and supports around mental health for African American youth with Albinism.
“These special opportunity grants are just a small token and acknowledgement of the foundation’s support of eight local organizations that have committed time and effort to enhancing the well-being of African Americans in Central Texas,” said Vicky Coffee, director of programs for the Hogg Foundation and project lead for the Healthy Minds grants.