From serving 700,000 meals to 300 homeless people each year to operating free medical clinics and day programs for more than 100 adults with developmental disabilities, Cass Community Social Services is dedicated to helping those less fortunate in the community thrive.
“CCSS is a Detroit-based agency with a person-centered philosophy, dedicated to providing food, housing, health services and job programs,” says Erica George, deputy director at Cass Community Social Services. “CCSS truly embodies meeting the service needs of the community, fighting poverty, creating opportunities and building the community.”
In order to better serve the community, CCSS turned to the Flinn Foundation for two grants. First, CCSS received $100,000 for a two-year grant from January 2020 until December 2021, and then the agency received $50,000 for a one-year grant from January-December 2022. The most recent grant allowed CCSS to implement a Resident Peer Support Training Program, which includes the creation of a training workbook so that future staff can maintain the program within CCSS, George notes.
“Peer support programs are highly effective and more important than ever during the pandemic,” says Andrea Cole, executive director and CEO of the Flinn Foundation.
The support training helps clients adapt to the changes brought on by COVID-19 in a healthy way, George notes.
“The Flinn Foundation grant allowed CCSS to implement a Mentor Peer-to-Peer program, which starts with rating the levels of stress due to COVID-19 and any other stressors identified,” George says. “Throughout, the Peer to Peer experience, each client improved their stress level and their mental clarity over the period, along with learning techniques to assist each other. The Resident Peer Support trainer has implemented group and individual support, activities, daily card reminders, attends training, engage in conflict resolution and career development for staff.”
Each year, the Ethel & James Flinn Foundation provides grants to southeast Michigan organizations who are doing their part to promote mental health awareness, access and understanding.
Since 1883, Vista Maria has been helping youth and their families heal from abuse, neglect and trauma through specialty mental health treatment for females ages 11-18 and community-based programs for youth ages 0-24.
Vista Maria’s services include alternative education and after-school programs, foster care and adoption services, family wraparound support, and transitional living programs for young adults who are homeless or have aged out of the child welfare system. It is also the only licensed emergency intake and treatment housing program in Michigan for adolescent female survivors of human trafficking.
“Through our programming, we are working to help vulnerable youth and families in Michigan realize a life beyond trauma, ignite a life of possibilities and heal,” says Meredith Reese, Chief Integrated & Behavioral Health Officer.
In 2021, to further enhance its staff’s training, Vista Maria turned to the Flinn Foundation to apply for its Capacity Building Opportunities. The agency was awarded $50,000 (its second grant from the Flinn Foundation; its first was in 2019). This year, Vista Maria is utilizing the $50,000 grant to provide clinical competency building opportunities.
“This training support allows Vista Maria to implement trauma-informed practices throughout the agency,” says Andrea Cole, executive director and CEO of the Flinn Foundation.
Reese says there are four areas in which staff will be trained:
“Vista Maria shares in the Flinn Foundation’s advocacy efforts to build awareness of mental health issues and end the stigmatization of mental illness, especially for adolescent-aged youth,” Reese says. “We commend our partner, the Flinn Foundation, for standing up for those who may not have a voice or may not have the resources they need to heal and recover.”
Each year, the Ethel & James Flinn Foundation provides grants to southeast Michigan organizations who are doing their part to promote mental health awareness, access and understanding. Those interested in applying for a grant from the Flinn Foundation have until July 21, 2022 at 4 p.m. ET to submit their application.
Freddie G. Burton, Jr., chief judge of the Wayne County Probate Court, is on a mission. With the help of the Flinn Foundation, the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network and more than 80 stakeholders in Wayne County, Burton is aiming to end the cycle of incarcerating non-violent offenders with mental health disorders through the Wayne County Jail Mental Health Initiative.
Burton — who is a Detroit native, Michigan State University and Wayne State University graduate with 35 years of experience as a judge — is spearheading the initiative, which has been underway since 2018. And it’s a crucial one.
According to Urban Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides data and evidence to help with decision-making and improve the well-being of families and communities, roughly 56% of state prisoners, 45% of federal prisoners, and 64% of jail inmates have a mental health problem.
Instead of getting the help they need, many people end up in the criminal justice system and can’t seem to get out.
Many times, it’s due to a breakdown in communication between law enforcement and hospitals. For example, Burton may preside over a case and order hospitalization for 60 days in addition to 120 days as an outpatient. However, when that person is stabilized, they could be let out of the hospital in 2-3 weeks, “but the outpatient basis is where we find an incredible breakthrough,” he notes. In some cases, that person might stop taking their medication and ultimately end up back at square one — in the court room yet again.
“It’s a revolving door,” Burton says.
That’s why collaboration among hospitals, jails and police to make sure more people are getting into assisted outpatient treatment is key. Burton says, through the initiative, they are making some true headway.
“Through the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, we have an opportunity to develop information and then share that information,” he says. This allows those involved with the initiative to get a better look at what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong, he adds.
Until the end of 2022, Burton’s docket will be filled solely with mental health cases for the county.
“As part of the pilot program, every time they enter a line treatment order, a case management folder must be prepared and filed to the court within 30 days or prior to the discharge of this person from the hospital,” Burton says. “They will communicate with the CMH, which is the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. They connect with service providers to make sure that person has been connected with the services they need. If they don’t follow this, they are subject to be taken back to the hospital,” Burton notes.
There is a civil side of this and a criminal side to this initiative, he adds.
“On the criminal side, we have seen tremendous reductions on the number of people that have been placed in jails,” he says.
Another piece of this puzzle is the Behavioral Health Unit, which is the first of its kind in the state. The Behavioral Health Unit is located in the Wayne County Probate Court.
“When there is a problem, the Behavioral Health Unit is there. When there is training required, we provide training … and it’s through the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. They have a legal and contractual responsibility to develop programs for providers, hire them, so they can take care of the individuals who are being released into the community,” he says.
The initiative has a long way to go, but those involved are committed — and the collaborations and partnerships are working.
“To me, it’s amazing how much we’ve been able to get people committed in the last 4 to 5 years,” Burton says. “It’s just a disgrace that we have so many people who just need some help, and we’ve not been able to do that, but I think we’re really moving in the right direction.”
It’s no surprise that Duane L. Tarnacki, one of the top nonprofit lawyers in Michigan, serves on the Flinn Foundation’s Board. He has a heart for service, something he cultivated in the 12 years he spent as a student at Dearborn Divine Child, and something he and his wife, Sheila, have instilled in their children. His son, Alec, works at Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids as housing director in their refugee family resettlement program, and his daughter, Alanna, is an ICU nurse in Marquette.
We asked him what specifically drew him to Flinn’s mission and some other questions to “get to know” our board chairman a bit better.
I have always been interested in mental health: I was a psychology major at the University of Michigan; my mother was a psychiatric nurse and my older sister is a social worker. I guess it runs in the family!
It is so often overlooked and carries way too much stigma. Positive mental health makes people’s lives better!
“If not us, who? If not now, when?” – John F. Kennedy
Playing golf (poorly) and bike riding around Kensington Metropark. I also do amateur yoga.
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
Neither. I prefer a “loosey” i.e., a loose hamburger on a hot dog bun with chili and mustard and onions
I like data.
The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is pleased to announce that we are accepting proposals from non-profit organizations that deliver mental health care and services in southeast Michigan (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw).
All applications must be submitted through our Online Grant Application Process which is accessible directly from our website
A tutorial is available to help familiarize you with the process
The deadline for all applications was Thursday, June 29, 2023 – before 4:00PM
Please click on the following Request for Proposals (RFPs) links for details:
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES – ADULTS
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES – CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
CAPACITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM
Since the Flinn Foundation’s founding in 1976, the goal has been the same — improve the lives of children, adolescents and adults with mental illness. But we all know that a goal is only as good as the strategy behind it.
That’s why we created a Strategic Plan. Here are some highlights of how we are putting our mission into action and how you can help.
To improve the quality, scope and delivery of mental health services in Michigan.
To advance effective, well-researched mental health treatment, services and programs that meet the needs of people in Michigan.
As you can see, we have some lofty goals for the Flinn Foundation over the next few years. And it can seem like an uphill battle. But every effort — big and small — can add up to make a big difference in achieving that simple, founding goal: improve the lives of children, adolescents and adults with mental illness.
You can contribute to this cause in the following ways:
1. Care for your own mental health: One of the first things we can all do to help destigmatize mental health is taking ownership of our own mental health needs and advocating for what we need — whether it’s therapy and programs or mental health days and stress-relieving activities and habits. Start thinking about your mental health; take steps to care for it like you would your physical health. And, if you have children, model that mental health awareness and care are important.
2. Encourage others to change how they think of mental health. We all have friends or relatives who are afraid to get mental health care. Perhaps they feel a stigma around mental health care needs, or maybe they aren’t sure they can afford care. Whatever the reason, encourage them to ask for help and seek out support.
3. Consider the words you use — and how they impact mental health perceptions. We’ve all called someone “crazy” at some point in our lives. Or, perhaps you’ve even trivially said you “felt bipolar” or made that casual reference about someone else. These words and expressions aren’t as harmless as they may seem in the moment. These casual references to mental health can contribute to the stigma those with mental health challenges feel. It can also make people — including your kids — feel less inclined to ask for help if they need it.
4. Let policymakers and stakeholders know that mental health matters to you. Michigan needs more resources to help those with mental health care needs. And it needs more equitable access among racial and income groups. Make sure your representatives know this is an important issue to you. Make sure they see that the mental health of our community is an integral part of our overall health. Vote for representatives who value mental health advocacy and resources like you do.
5. Follow Flinn on social. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to for notable updates, mental health tips and other information. If you’re part of the local mental health community, you’ll want to know when our annual grant application period begins. That will be announced first on our social channels. Be sure to “like” and share our posts to help us spread the word about our mental health mission.
By Andrea Cole
My husband, Kelvin, and I starting riding our bikes during the pandemic. It was a safe way for us to get out of the house, get some fresh air and exercise. Kelvin is more disciplined than me and sometimes I would want to talk my way out of going.
But as time passed, I found myself looking forward to our daily trips.
I created a playlist of my favorite songs and it was so relaxing. Kelvin created different paths for us and we rode through subdivisions near us. Seeing people out and about gave us a sense of normalcy. We also met families we never saw before the pandemic.
It’s funny how you can live on the same street for years and not know your own neighbors.
Those simple bike rides do so much for my mental health. I feel better and it gives me a break from the computer during the day. This winter was pretty cold, so we are starting to get out again now that it’s warming up.
I didn’t realize how much better it makes me feel until weather stopped us for a couple of months.
Even if bike riding isn’t for you, you can still find a simple thing to do that makes you feel good. Once you get a routine, it becomes easier and you have something to look forward to.
These two years have not been easy for any of us, and it’s important that we stay connected to some sense of normalcy. Tapping into something we enjoy doing that’s easy to commit to is key.
Whether it’s listening to music, taking a walk or riding a bike, just DO it! It can make a huge positive impact on your mind, body and soul.
The Flinn Foundation’s new CFO, Julie Ermler, brings more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience from positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Skillman Foundation and, most recently, the Hudson Webber Foundation.
So, what brought her to Flinn in 2022? We asked her that — and a few other questions — to “get to know” this new addition to the Flinn team.
I worked with Andrea (Cole, executive director and CEO) and Arnita (Thorpe, operations manager) before at another private foundation. They are great people and I enjoy being around them. What also drew me to Flinn is their mission of advancing mental health programs in Michigan, which really resonates with me.
I have family members with mental health issues. They suffer from depression and anxiety at different level of degrees and I am saddened by it. Learning more in the area can only help strengthen my support for them in seeing a healthy path forward.
The first thing that came to mind is the saying “no pain, no gain.” In order to get to where I wanted to go in life, I had to work hard and had to sacrifice doing easier things. I look back now and realize how much work I put in to get to this good place in my life.
To cope with stress, I work out and I like to go on fairly long hikes. Even taking a short walk during the day helps minimize my stress. Being outside is a big stress reliever for me.
My happy place in Detroit is on the east side by the city airport. I remember warm days being outside and listening to the airplanes taking off and landing. Being there brings me back to my childhood.
Well that is a hard choice — I like both Coney dogs and shawarmas. I also like paczkis and all the different styles of pizza. This area has a lot to offer in regard to all the wonderful varieties of food choices.
I like to travel. I lived in Europe for three years and I was able to travel to different historical sites as well as see the countryside and experience the diverse cultures.