Mental Health Matters

Local Organizations Help Serve Underserved Communities

Y.E.S. will also be promoting other incentives for students, such as covering the fee for their licensure, tests, or practice materials.

“We also know that there is a mental health crisis and the emergence of major mental health disorders typically occurs between the ages of 19 and 21,” Reed said. “So there’s the ability for students to be able to treat the emergence of a major mental health disorder and gain a lot of experience.”

The majority of the grant will enable Y.E.S. to cover startup costs and hire a full-time mental health professional to serve up to 23 youths, ages 12-24, that Y.E.S. helps.

Previously Y.E.S. contracted with Lutheran Family Services to provide a mental health professional for a few days a week.

She’s also hoping the competitive salary and other perks will help attract individuals that have more diverse backgrounds so that “youth can have more access to practitioners who maybe look like them or have similar lived experience.”

5. Therapists of Color Network

While a general mental health care professional shortage persists, there is an even greater shortage of individuals with diverse backgrounds. Take language for example.

The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska reported in its 2021 Legislative Report that in most mental health professions less than 40% of providers speak a language other than English.

“Efforts are needed to recruit more culturally competent professionals to continue to address language barriers and align closer with cultural backgrounds,” it stated.

Dalia Ruvalcaba, a licensed bilingual mental health therapist who identifies as Latina, was unable to find peers of color to connect with at the beginning of her career. Earlier this year she decided to launch the Therapists of Color Network, now with 26 registered clinicians.

In addition to connecting with peers, Ruvalcaba is hopeful that having diverse backgrounds and cultures in the group will provide a learning environment.

“I’m a Latina therapist, maybe I could connect with an African American therapist that could help me learn more about their community and culture,” she said.

The other motivation was to create an easily accessible directory for minorities and people of color who were looking for a therapist. She hopes that if underserved communities see clinicians that look like them they might be more encouraged to seek help.

“It’s easier to interact with someone if they have a sense of where you’re coming from and why you have the perspectives, beliefs, and values that you do,” she said.

6. Child Saving Institute: 4545 Dodge St., Omaha 68132

Until more diverse mental health professionals can join the workforce, CSI is utilizing technology to fill the gaps.

Lora Sladovik, director of mental health services at CSI, said in addition to bilingual therapists and a bilingual office manager, the organization also utilizes a program called Martti by Uphealth.

“It helps us access over 250 languages,” she said. “If someone calls us we’re not worried about what language they speak. We know we’re going to be able to communicate with them.”

While CSI has 15 programs ranging from adoption to family empowerment, its mental health division has been expanding rapidly.

“We are busting at the seams right now and our therapists are all over the building because we don’t have enough space,” Sladovik said.

Presently, the agency has a waitlist of 150 children who are waiting to receive therapy services or medication management.

When the $46 million expansion is completed, the hope is to double the number of clinicians CSI employs from eight to 16.

With a general caseload of about 28-30 children per clinician, the increase would allow CSI to help a minimum of 480 children with a variety of services such as outpatient therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

For reference, last year Sladovnik said they were able to help just over 400 children.

“We’ve been here for 130 years, and this will be the biggest we’ve ever been,” she said.

INTERESTED IN HELPING THESE ORGANIZATIONS?

We asked organization leaders how individuals could get involved. Here’s what they said:

Radius:

As a brand-new organization, Radius is mainly seeking philanthropic support as it begins to build its legacy.

“We have funding for our programs, but like other nonprofits, we have a gap each year,” Nick Juliano, president and CEO, said. “We need to rely on our community for additional support financially to make sure we can provide the services.”

Donations can be made at radiusomaha.org/donate.

Community Alliance:

First, consider donating to the capital campaign at community-alliance.org/flourish/.

“Every dollar will make a difference,” Aileen Brady, executive vice president, and chief operating officer, said. “Every dollar will build us to our final goal … to be able to be more responsive to community needs.”

Community Alliance also needs in-kind gifts for various programs, including homeless services and housing. Volunteer opportunities are also available. Interested parties can email getinvolved@commall.org, or call 402-341-5128.

Youth Emergency Services:

Aside from cash donations that can be made through its website, Y.E.S. is always in need of frozen and prepared meals to feed youth that are experiencing homelessness, or near homelessness.

“If you want to donate a meal, we have a full calendar. We’re also always looking for clothing for you,” said Kalisha Reed, executive director.

Y.E.S. also has an Amazon wishlist with dozens of items, such as towels, underwear, and hygiene products.

Child Saving Institute:

First, consider donating to the capital campaign at childsaving.org/newsevents/campaignforhope.

Aside from the capital campaign, CSI is also a part of the TAGG network, so individuals can donate directly to CSI while shopping at participating vendors. A wishlist is also available online at childsaving.org/help/donate.