African American Faith Communities Mental Health Project
African American Faith Communities Mental Health Project
After the family, the Black church in the United States represents the second most prominent social institution in African American communities. African Americans represent a population experiencing multiple health disparities. Black churches may be an ideal setting for health promotion interventions as they have extensive influence and reach in African American communities, high African American attendance rates, and a strong emphasis on health. The AAFCP examines African American church-based health interventions that support a continuum of health services from prevention to linkage to care with church members and community members using church outreach services. Additionally, the project engages in innovative interventions to help congregants and community members deal with depression and subsequently promote positive, psychological well-being.
Dementia and Palliative Care
Mental health is an area that continually to evidence race-based disparities in regard to access, utilization, and continuation of care as well as services. The AAFCP focuses on ways Black churches, especially African American Protestant faith communities, support families experiencing a loved one with dementia and palliative care. This new initiative will collaborate with other researchers who study the connections among caregivers’ support networks, dementia and palliative care.
African-American Faith-Based Mental Health Education and Awareness Initiative
AAFBMH funding ended August 30, 2018
In 2014, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health selected ten (10) African-American faith based organizations in Texas to promote mental health awareness, wellness and recovery over a three-year period. The Hogg Foundation promoted three initiatives under its African-American Faith-Based Mental Health Education and Awareness Initiative (AAFBMH): (1) to educate African American faith communities about mental health, wellness and recovery; (2) to build on the unique strengths of African-American churches as well as other faith and community-based organizations to identify local behavioral, treatment, and support resources; and, (3) to support faith leaders in addressing their own mental wellness. This initiative was evaluated by a team of scholars and students. They were Dr. Tamara Brown (principal investigator), Dr. Pamela Martin (co-principal investigator) and several graduate students assisted with data collection, data management, tables and charts: Leslie Encarnacion, Katina Harris, Ariel McField, Shauna Richards, Richard Rooks, Salim Salim, and Jerron Wray.