Description
Resource Referrals
BMHA maintains an extensive list of African American mental health professionals who are sensitive to and appreciate cultural differences. To access this service, call the BMHA office at 410-338-BMHA (2642).
Group Training and Consultation
BMHA provides individually designed training to enhance service delivery to agencies whose target populations are culturally diverse in order to maximize program outcomes.
Healthy Families/Healthy Schools
This parental involvement and wellness Initiative is designed to help improve caregivers’ understanding of the mental health needs of children and their families. It is designed to assist in improving the quality of life and improve family wellness in and around our communities through education and training.
Through the use of mental health professionals who have partnered with us, we are presenting a weekly series of presentations to Baltimore City Elementary School teachers, parents, caregivers and guardians on: Domestic Violence, Child Development, Child Behavior and Discipline.
Identification, Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD In Children, Traumatic Stress and Children, Anger Management, Building Self Esteem, Substance Abuse, Child Safety (Home and School), Parents and Children Learning Together, Depression and Bereavement, Linkages to Social Support and Educational Services for Parents; and Nutrition and its Impact on Wellness: Physical and Mental. Each presentation is tailored to the school’s needs, based on their request and held in the school or a community setting that best meets the needs of the target audience.
Healthy Families, Healthy Communities After-School Programs (HFHC)
The Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation, Inc. (BMHA), in partnership with The New William Pinderhughes Elementary/Middle School and Beechfield Elementary/Middle School launched two Maryland 21 st Century Community Learning Center programs entitled Healthy Families, Healthy Communities. These initiatives are funded by the Maryland State Department of Education. The purpose of these initiatives is to support higher academic achievement and enhance the lives of 100 students and their families.
This collaborative effort is designed to transform William Pinderhughes Elementary/Middle School and Beechfield Elementary/Middle School neighborhood into a community based learning center, which will provide students with the opportunities for academic enrichment while assisting them in meeting state and local academic achievement standards in reading and mathematics. Lastly, social, creative, and cultural activities, mental health, and parental involvement through leadership and participation will supplement the program. Volunteers and additional community partners are needed for after school programming. Please sign up today! Call 410.338.2642 for additional information or e-mail us stating your interest and availability at bhealthall@blackmentalhealth.com.
Postpartum Depression Education
BMHA, Inc. developed an education and information strategy to address the issues of postpartum and "baby blues" depression for a target audience of pregnant and post natal women. That targeted population was identified in the Friends of the Family, Inc.’s Family Support Centers (FSCs) who provide a range of pre-natal to post natal services and services to mothers of pre-school children.
Each Family Support Center is provided a minimum of five one hour educational sessions per Family Support Center.; shown a video on postpartum baby blues; provided with additional postpartum baby blues handouts, brochures and articles; as well as conducting discussions with participants. A bi-monthly survey of client satisfaction with services is provided to ensure they have been educated to the fullest extent on postpartum baby blues.
African American Outreach Project: AD/HD Speaker’s Bureau
Misdiagnosis, under-treatment and over-treatment of AD/HD are common problems faced by children and adolescents in the African American community. As many as one in five children will experience emotional illness that will affect their behavior, mood or ability to learn. Yet, few will receive treatment and in many instances, AD/HD is misdiagnosed in African American children and categorized as a behavioral issue. Parents and caregivers face a myriad of challenges including stigma, lack of resources, lack of coordination of care between providers, and lack of education about AD/HD diagnosis and treatment. In addition, cultural and ethnic differences are often poorly understood by primary care and mental health providers, further complicating treatment.
The purpose of the African American Outreach Project is to provide a series of community panel presentations to provide information and education on Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in African American children and adolescents.
The audience for the Speaker’s Bureau are parents and guardians of African American children and adolescents with AD/HD; providers of services to children and adolescents with AD/HD; community representatives; and all who have an interest in gaining knowledge about AD/HD, diagnosis, treatment, mental health and community services.
