In August 2020, we were awarded a Peer Workforce Investment grant from the California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS). This was made possible by Governor Newsom signing SB 803, which allows peers and family members to bill Medical as service providers, honoring their lived experience. The funds received will allow us to do the important work of lifting up the voices and supporting African Americans impacted by mental illness by offering non-clinical mental health services. This is the first time that a program like this has been funded to specifically support the African American community.
The African American Uplift Program will utilize a community-defined, culturally responsive, approach designed to promote ownership for all African American residents of Contra Costa. It is well-documented that African Americans impacted by mental illness experience glaring disparities due to systemic racism.
African Americans make up only 10% of the population in Contra Costa County, yet African American males typically make up over 40% of the county’s mental health criminal justice population.
African Americans also have a 5-7 year delay in receiving a mental health diagnosis. Both of these issues sadly result in African Americans being criminalized for living with a medical condition.
Our program will work to reduce these disparities. At NAMI CC we recognize that there is a critical need to go beyond removing language barriers, cultural barriers and institutional barriers, which would improve outcomes for these under-resourced and often neglected communities.
On January 20, 2022, we introduced the staff, share our goals and objectives, and the importance of building community trust and wellness. There will be breakout rooms to promote community input, to embrace and honor additional ideas.
All this said, we encourage all to watch the African American Uplift Program launch video.