A Funders' Call to Action: Responding to Immigrant Mental Health Concerns (Behavioral Health Funders Network)
The Behavioral Health Funders Network invites you to a
vital conversation about the critical role funders can play in responding to
immigrant mental health concerns.
Massachusetts, like many states across the nation, is
grappling with a growing mental health crisis. Psychological distress, which includes
depression and anxiety, is widespread, particularly among historically
marginalized communities and among youth populations. For immigrant
communities, psychological distress is compounded by a landscape marked by
uncertainty, fear, and systemic exclusion—conditions that profoundly affect
their mental health. Amid increasingly punitive immigration policies, including
family separation, detention, and deportation, these communities face
extraordinary challenges that endanger their mental health and well-being and
that of their children.
In this discussion, you will hear from a cross-section of
practitioners, including funders and clinicians, about the impacts these mental
health concerns are having in Massachusetts, the critical role philanthropy can
play in addressing mental health challenges, and the action steps funders can
take to improve mental health and family well-being in immigrant communities.
- Dr. Roberto Santamaria,
MPH, MBA, DrPH, Executive Director, Fairwinds-Nantucket's Counseling
Center.
- Dr. Yolanda D. Johnson is
the Chief of Student Services for Springfield Public Schools
- Marty Martinez, President
and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay
- Monique Tú Nguyen,
Executive Director, Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement Equity &
Inclusion Cabinet
Desired Outcomes
By the end of the meeting, participants will have:
- Deepened their
understanding of how the present political and policy landscape is
affecting the mental health of immigrants.
- Increased their knowledge
of actions select funders are taking to address this burgeoning need
- Identified action steps
that funders can take to help communities experiencing this crisis
Note: This meeting will NOT be recorded and
registrations will be reviewed by Philanthropy MA ahead of time.
About the Network:
The Behavioral Health Funders Network (BHFN) is a state-wide network of funders working in the area of behavioral and mental health and wellness. For over 4 years the Network has been meeting regularly for peer learning, knowledge sharing, and relationship building. Key norms of this Network are trust, confidentiality, and a learning/growth mindset. The stated goals of the Network are: 1) Improve behavioral health services by providing a space and opportunity for learning from one another, and 2) Exchange information with the potential for collaboration on projects ranging in size from large, overarching initiatives to smaller community-based projects.