EMPOWERING MINDS MESSENGER
OCTOBER 2017
Here we are in October , the middle of fall with Halloween just a few weeks away. This month Empowering Minds celebrates our recent three-year CARF accreditation, Mental Illness Awareness Week, and LGBT History Month. Below you’ll find information on upcoming events, LGBT+ resources, and agency updates.
2017-2020
Three-Year CARF Accrediation!
Empowering Minds Resource Center is excited to announce that we are now CARF accredited! Thank you to all our hardworking staff who made this recognition possible. Empowering Minds demonstrated that we meet international standards for quality and that we are committed to providing excellence.

Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is an independent nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of persons served. Founded in 1966, CARF establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.

We hope our partnerships strengthen with the knowledge that Empowering Minds is held to international standards of excellence for behavioral health! Our CARF accredited programs include Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program, Mental Health Vocational Program, and Targeted Case Management.
Mental Illness Awareness Week
The first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week, and in celebration of awareness, Empowering Minds is taking clients to Fun City to enjoy roller skating, bumper cars, miniature golf, and laser tag!
LGBT+ Resources
The Center for Black Equity-Baltimore advocates and provides counseling and family support through the Earline Budd Anti-Violence Project for Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people and their allies in the Baltimore Metropolitan area.
(443) 218-2478
FreeState Legal provides free legal services to low-income LGBT clients through in-house counsel, pro bono attorney network, outreach programs, informational sessions, and trainings for Maryland educators, service providers, lawyers, and judges about LGBT needs.

(410) 625-5428
The GLCCB is Baltimore’s LGBTQ community center. Its mission is “to be a catalyst in uniting and empowering sexual and gender minorities in Baltimore and Central Maryland and advocate for a better quality of life for the entire community.” It provides case management services, a variety of resourceful events, outreach, and peer support.

(410) 777-8145
HPRP’s Homeless Youth Law Project provides LGBT-friendly free legal services in subsidized housing, public benefits, and criminal record expungement to youth and young adults (up to age 25), who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. They also do street outreach with transgender persons, including transgender sex workers.

410-685-6589 or 800-773-4340
STAR TRACK offers primarily free (some services have co-pays) LGBT+ inclusive healthcare, including hormone therapy, HIV/STI testing, resource referral, case management, condom distribution, and comprehensive programming.

(410) 706-6000
Baltimore City and County
Halloween Events
RETURN OF THE MONSTER MASH PARTY
Thursday October 26th 6:30 PM

Join Anne Arundel County Public Library in Glen Burnie for a Monster Mash Party! There will be games, stories, a monster parade and more! Costumes are welcome.
AVAM's FREE FALL HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION
Friday October 27th

5-7pm: Free "Lumin-Eeries" Lantern-Making Workshop! Monsters & their Mummies are invited to create their own eerie luminary lantern, BYO Glass Jar (any size w/ label removed), all materials: glue, paper, googly eyes & bling provided; ALL AGES family workshop inside AVAM's Jim Rouse Visionary Center, 3rd floor& Face Painting too!
5-7pm: Free Museum Admission! Explore the latest AVAM exhibition & tour the rest of our wonderland campus.
7pm: Free Flick: Young Frankenstein (1974)! Flicks From The Hill , makes a special, one night only October appearance. Costumes encouraged! Movie rain location: inside AVAM's Jim Rouse Visionary Center, 3rd floor
LEGENDS BY LANTERN 
Friday October 27th 7-10 PM

Find out what happened to Corporal Frank Scott and see the airfield by lamplight while hearing tales of the past. This new program is a spin-off from the museum’s long-standing, Haunted Hangar, which was long overdue for a tune-up! Participants are invited to wear their costume on a tour that starts with a hayride and concludes with hot cider and a fun fall activity. Director’s choice costume awards will be given each hour!
HALLOWEEN COMICFEST
Saturday October 29th 10 AM-6 PM

It's time to get spooky again! Break out your favorite costumes and come down to Geppi's Entertainment Museum for Halloween ComicFest! There will be lots of fun crafts, face painting, candy and of course, FREE COMICS. We're holding a Smash Brothers tournament, prizes will be announced! Go sign up in the comments section! Join us at 2 for our especially spooky Halloween-themed museum tour! Our costume contest will take place at 4!
17th GREAT HALLOWEEN LANTERN PARADE & FESTIVAL in the Tradition of Día de los Muertos!
Saturday October 29th 3:30 PM-8:30 PM

Celebrate life and new beginnings with Creative Alliance’s Artesanas Mexicanas ! Learn the traditions of Día de los Muertos and altar making! Create NEW hand drum lanterns, and march in the parade with your community!
ANNUAL HAMPDEN HALLOWEENFEST
Monday October 31st 5-8 PM

It's time! Dress up in your favorite DIY scary, funny or crazy costume and head on over to the Annual Hampden HalloweenFest taking place from 5-8 pm on Monday, October 31, 2016 on "The Avenue" (W. 36th Street). The event, sponsored by the merchants of historic Hampden, was created to encourage handmade artistry and creativity in Halloween costume design for all ages. Costumed children and adults are encouraged to go shop-to-shop for Trick-or-Treating from 5-6 p.m. with participating merchants along 36th Street, northward up Falls Road, and southward down Chestnut Avenue.
The much-anticipated Costume Contest will take place from 6:30- 8:00 p.m. in front of Ma Petite Shoe at 832 West 36th Street and awards will be given to the Scariest, the Prettiest and the Most Original in each age group. In addition, there will also be a trophy for the Best 18-Year-Old-and-Over Costume.
Baltimore City Groups
Mondays 6-7 PM 
Women's Group, Teen's Group, and Youth Group
Tuesdays 6-7 PM
Men's Group
Anne Arundel County Groups
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Empowering Minds Resource Center is proud to announce there is currently  NO WAIT LIST at the agency. We work hard everyday to ensure referrals are quickly processed and clients are engaged by our staff and partnered therapists immediately. We are ready, willing and able to accept new clients TODAY.  
NOW ACCEPTING HARFORD COUNTY REFERRALS

Empowering Minds Resource Center has no waitlist for our TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT and our PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION PROGRAM in Harford County ! 
Empowering Minds recognizes Nkwa McCarthy as the agency's Direct Service Coordinator of the month. Nkwa is recognized for developing positive relationships with her clients, engaging in regular communication with the internal office staff., and submitting her notes in a timely fashion. 

Congratulations and thank you for your hard work and dedication, Nkwa !


WE'RE HIRING!

Empowering Minds is looking to add some new members to our wonderful team. Check out the link below for more information!
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