Resources for Supporting Culturally-Led Mental Health Programs
Communities themselves are experts in their mental health needs and how to best address them. Culturally-led programs can support the mental health of communities of color by centering their unique needs, histories, and traditions to improve well-being. Funders have an important opportunity to uplift these programs, which are often overlooked and underfunded by philanthropy.
For the Community, By the Community: How Philanthropy Can Support Culturally-Led Mental Health Programs is our latest guidance on how funders can support culturally-led mental health programs that are developed by and for communities of color, who often experience disproportionately higher rates of mental health and substance use disorders. Factors such as racism, intergenerational trauma, and misalignment of treatment approaches with cultural considerations also keep communities of color from receiving high quality mental healthcare. Culturally-led programs elevate ways to address mental health, addiction, and well-being that are created by and for communities of color.
Our guidance outlines a framework with five key considerations for funders to identify, support, and strengthen culturally-led programs. Exemplar programs accompany the funder guide to bring each of these considerations to life by highlighting a specific nonprofit program.
Download For the Community, By the Community: Funder Guide & Exemplar Profiles
What are culturally-led programs?
Culturally-led programs are driven by and for those they intend to serve with a deep understanding of the community’s unique histories, experiences, traditions, and cultures. This is in contrast to cultural adaptations or adjustments of universal programs made to fit the needs of a specific community.
In this work, we take a broad view of mental health and community well-being. This can include programs that address addiction and substance use, promote restorative practice and community healing, and address and advocate around issues that negatively impact mental health, such as the industrial prison complex.
Key Considerations for Identifying Culturally-Led Programs
If you are aware of a culturally-led program that aligns with this guidance,
please complete an informational questionnaire here.
Additional Resources
Unlocking Social Progress by Addressing Structural Racism by The Bridgespan Group explores philanthropy’s role in achieving racial equity. The report defines structural racism and why it matters, provides examples of ways that funders can address related issues, and digs into lessons learned for philanthropy.
Latinx Mental Health Learning Collaborative 2022: Recommendations to Support Effective and Scalable Investments and Initiatives by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Philanthropy Southwest explores philanthropic trends around Latinx mental health. The report helps funders understand the ecosystem, provides research findings, and presents considerations for funders who wish to engage in this area.
