The purpose of the Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) West Baltimore Project is to reduce the impact of trauma and build resilience in several Central West Baltimore communities where civil unrest occurred in Baltimore City (April 2015) – Sandtown-Winchester, Upton/Druid Heights, and Penn North. The lynchpin of this project is the development of a community board called Baltimore City Intergenerational Initiative for Trauma and Youth (B-CIITY), consisting of residents of these communities that will guide the development, implementation, and and provision of a variety of strategies including youth and community organizing, expanded mentoring programs, youth development programming, self-care/mindfulness activities, and healing circles as outlined in the ReCAST West Baltimore Strategic Plan.
BMHA serves as one of the initial organizations of community partners that was invited to provide youth, parents/caregivers providers and community leaders in the three ReCAST communities with the following activities:
BMHA offers “within group” community healing circles using a model created by Community Healing Network referred to as Emotional Emancipation Circles SM (EEC). Infused throughout these activities is information presented to help participants understand the reality and impact of the following: racism and racial microaggressions, racial stress, psychological trauma, historical trauma, internalized racism, resiliency, and community healing and emotional emancipation. Check out our events for the next EEC meeting.
BMHA provides high-quality, trauma-informed, community-based, culturally-sensitive workshops and other forums to promote connectedness, healing, and resilience in youth, adults, parents, and caregivers. Check out our events. Mental health practitioners and grassroots community providers can participate in workshops, forums, and training sessions to learn about the effects of trauma and receive knowledge about mental/physical self-care and healing regimens. Some of the trainings allow mental health practitioners to earn Continuing Education Units.
BMHA offers confidential referrals for those seeking mental health services using its database of culturally-competent and patient-centered mental health practitioners and behavioral health specialists committed to serving Black communities. Persons seeking a therapist will contact BMHA either in person, over the phone or online. BMHA will quickly triage the person making the inquiry make connections that match the need. The goal is to give the person making the inquiry several providers to contact from our community of providers.