“Mental Health (MH) in the Center - US, Needham and Cohort 2”

In Cohort 2’s second meeting on November 14, 2024, the group continued to build relationships and share about liaison roles. 

ICEBREAKER

In one sentence, state what positive actions/steps you will (or would like to) be taking in the future months in response to the recent election results? Turn and talk in pairs.

NEEDHAM RESILIENCE NETWORK 

With the handful of the latest new members joining, the group reviewed that the NRN is a community initiative led by its members, supported administratively by the Needham Diversity Initiative (NDI), and thus far funded by The Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation, Beth Israel Hospital–Needham, and Belonging Lab at the American Immigration Council. Funding for NRN stems from the recognition that our community’s political, social and physical health are intertwined and that they are dependent on the ability for all voices within Needham to be heard and in conversation with one another. 

Special thanks to Needham Community Council for supporting Cohort #2 and partnering with us to increase MH awareness and resources in Needham. Gratitude also goes out to Sara Shine and Needham Youth and Family Services, who will generously provide our Mental Health First Aid training.

As a Network, we have: 

• Identified Needham’s risks and challenges in terms of identity-based bias, discrimination and hate.

• Created a rapid response and prevention capability to counter hate-based events and foster social cohesion.

• Established public outreach to produce familiarity with the Network and its goals, amplifying the message of cross-group collaboration, inclusion and equity in Needham.

Cohort 2: Bringing Mental Health to the Community

Building on Cohort 1 curriculum, which addresses skill and relationship building around listening and bridging across difference, NRN's Cohort 2 program will train and support a diverse cohort of community leaders, each of whom is a trusted, informal “hub” within their specific community to: 

• raise awareness, increase knowledge and decrease de-stigmatization around mental health issues within their subnetwork(s)

• grow a "tool kit’" for shared language and initial front-line responses to mental health challenges 

• offer assistance with accessing MH supports for people in their subnetwork(s)

GOALS FOR THE YEAR

• Anchor in belonging

• Build relationships

• Identify shared values

• Gain skills in communication across differences

• Address Needham’s MH challenges across sector and population

• Trainings (Mental Health First Aid later in January and during our February meeting) & Stipend for all participants to honor the extensive outreach and training work 

GROUP BIOS 

Each month different Cohort 2 members will share information about the community or organization to which they will liaise. These presentations (no more than 3 minutes and 3 slides) address:

• Mission/Reason for the group

• Activities or ways in which the group connects to the community

• What the participant/group hopes to give to and receive from the Network

These descriptions of subnetworks aid participants in getting to know each other and our organizations/communities more deeply.  

Needham Public Schools (NPS) Counseling Department -

Rocio Camargo-Ruiz, NPS Counseling Director (K-5)

NPS Department of Counseling has many partners and supports, including Needham Youth and Family Services, Needham Police Department, Be Kind Needham, Needham Community Council, Needham Housing Authority, the Needham Interfaith Clergy Association, and the YMCA.

The desired outcomes from this connection with NRN include: 

• NPD Supporting NRN’s mental health wellness priority by promoting mental health literacy to reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek help

• Sharing of counselors' insights on the mental health needs of NPS students

• Connecting students and families to NRN’s resources, such as resilience-building programs and peer support networks, in order to extend the impact of counseling services

• Developing joint outcome measures or evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness of interventions focused on mental health, belonging, and resiliency

Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) -

Juliet Hazard Riley, Assistant METCO Director

METCO provides students with a strong academic foundation rich in cultural, educational, ethnic, socioeconomic, and racial diversity and fosters the opportunity for children from Boston and from neighboring suburbs to develop a deeper understanding of each other in an integrated public-school setting.

METCO’s areas of focus include DEI work (i.e., restorative practices training), community outreach (i.e., peer mentorship), and collaborative curriculum Initiatives.

Community Service Projects aim to: 

• Create spaces for open dialogue and relationship-building between families in the METCO program and the wider community 

• Work together to create mentorship opportunities that support students and families from different racial backgrounds, offering guidance, resources, and a sense of belonging

• Share mental health resources and collaborate with City of Boston

The NRN group highlighted the value and richness of parent involvement, such as "partner families".

Flow of the Year