Organization: THE CHAS FOUNDATION
Mission: THE MISSION OF THE CHAS FOUNDATION IS TO STREAMLINE ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR THE MENTALLY ILL IN THE HAMPTON ROADS REGION. MENTAL ILLNESS IS A DISEASE THAT HAS HAD A STIGMA FOR FAR TOO LONG AND OUR ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR NOT ONLY THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, BUT ALSO THEIR FAMILIES AND CARETAKERS.
Activities: COMMUNITY OUTREACH/PARTNERSHIPS IN ORDER TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE AND SERVICES, THE CHAS FOUNDATION HAS COLLABORATED AND PARTNERED WITH NUMEROUS HOSPITALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2019, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUED WORKING ON THE "MENTALLY HEALTHY NORFOLK" INITIATIVE WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,AND CITY LEADERS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND "IMPROVE THE COMMUNITIES OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH." THE CHAS FOUNDATION ALSO CONTINUES ITS WORK WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF THE KINGS DAUGHTERS (CHKD) BY PARTICIPATING IN A FAMILY ADVISORY PANEL THAT GIVES ADVICE AND FEEDBACK REGARDING THE NEWLY DESIGNED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITAL. THE CHAS FOUNDATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH AND ALONGSIDE LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARDS, THE EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL (EVMS), I NEED A LIGHTHOUSE, THE SARAH MICHELLE PETERSON FOUNDATION, AND THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL (NAMI). CLOTHING AND TOILETRIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO THE NORFOLK CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTER. PUBLIC AWARENESS FOR THE FOURTH YEAR, THE CHAS FOUNDATION LAUNCHED A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. UNLIKE MANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND/OR DISEASES, INDIVIDUALS OFTEN HIDE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND MASK THEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY STAGES. EARLY TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF MENTAL ILLNESS HAS SHOWN TO INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY. ALSO, RAISING AWARENESS AND HAVING ANTI-STIGMA BILLBOARDS CAN HELP AN INDIVIDUAL RECOGNIZE THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER FEEL ASHAMED ASKING FOR HELP AND SEEKING TREATMENT. BILLBOARDS WERE PLACED AROUND HAMPTON ROADS WITH THE FIRST BILLBOARD STATING: "MENTAL ILLNESS: STIGMA HURTS EVERYONE" ALONG WITH PICTURES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHOES. THE SHOES ARE MEANT TO SHOW THAT ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAN STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE SECOND BILLBOARD STATED THAT "COURAGE IS TO KNOW WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP." NO ONE SHOULD EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, FEEL ASHAMED ABOUT ASKING FOR HELPING. THE CHAS FOUNDATION WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE IS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. SOCIAL MEDIA WAS ALSO USED TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON NEW RESEARCH AND CURRENT TRENDS REGARDING MENTAL ILLNESS. MENTAL ILLNESS NAVIGATOR & SUPPORT IN 2019, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUED HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILY'S FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS WHEN STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND CONNECT THEM TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH. THE PROGRAM NAVIGATES THE COMPLEX SYSTEM AND CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS TO LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WHILE PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF CARE THROUGH REFERRALS (TREATMENT PROVIDERS, HOUSING, POLICE, COURT, JAILS). WHEN SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE INADEQUATE, OR THE INDIVIDUAL AND/OR FAMILY HAS EXHAUSTED ALL THEIR OPTIONS, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT AS WELL AS PEER FAMILY SUPPORT IN ORDER TO HELP THE FAMILY AS AN ENTIRE UNIT. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS GIVEN BY MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT THEIR CHOICE OF LOCATION, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO REACH SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MAKING DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS. THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM CAN BE A MAZE FOR INDIVIDUALS. FAMILIES DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO START OR HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM. AN ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE SHOWING RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN EVERY HAMPTON ROADS CITY IS CONTINUALLY UPDATED FOR COMMUNITY USE. EDUCATION/TRAINING THE CHAS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM IN NORFOLK, VA. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS (CIT) ARE PROGRAMS THAT BRING TOGETHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND FAMILY ADVOCATES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE MULTI-SYSTEMS' RESPONSE TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM FOR 6 YEARS AND HAS TRAINED OVER 700 OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, THE CHAS FOUNDATION ATTENDS MENTAL HEALTH FAIRS THROUGHOUT HAMPTON ROADS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALONG WITH PROMOTING DISCUSSIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES. IN 2018, THE CHAS FOUNDATION BEGAN PROVIDING A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING THAT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS LOOKS LIKE, SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES, AND STEPS TO TAKE IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY MEMBER IS STRUGGLING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS. MINDFULNESS THE CHAS FOUNDATION BEGAN TO DEVELOP A MINDFULNESS AND WELLNESS ROOM IN ITS NEWLY ACQUIRED OFFICE SPACE. MINDFULNESS IS NOW RECOMMENDED AS AN ALTERNATIVE OR SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND BIPOLAR DISORDER. THE INITIAL STAGE OF THE MINDFULNESS PROGRAM INCLUDED TRANSFORMING THE AESTHETICS OF THE ROOM BY REMOVING OLD CARPET AND LAYING DOWN WOOD PANEL FLOORING TO GIVE IT A "YOGA OR DANCE STUDIO FEEL". IN ADDITION TO THE FLOORING, THE CHAS FOUNDATION BEGAN MAKING SUPPLY PURCHASES FOR THE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED CUSHIONS, MATS, SHELVING, AND OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO GET THE PROGRAM STARTED. IN 2019, THE MINDFULNESS PROGRAM BEGAN HOLDING SMALL WORKSHOPS THAT INTRODUCE MINDFULNESS TO ADULTS WHILE HELPING DEVELOP COPING SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELL-BEING.
NTEE category: Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Secondary category: Voluntary Health Associations & Medical Disciplines