The Flinn Foundation is proud to celebrate its Board of Trustees Chairman, The Honorable Freddie G. Burton, Jr., for being named the 2024 recipient of the esteemed Treat Award for Excellence by the National College of Probate Judges (NCPJ).
Chief Judge Burton, who serves as the Chief Judge of Wayne County Probate Court (WCPC), is recognized for his groundbreaking creation of the court’s Behavioral Health Unit (BHU).
In launching the BHU, Chief Judge Burton has brought together a coalition of stakeholders — including mental health providers, hospitals, law enforcement, and government agencies — creating a collaborative approach that has yielded both cost savings and improved service delivery for Wayne County residents.
The unit focuses on addressing the needs of individuals with significant mental illness, providing assisted outpatient treatment, and successfully reducing jail overcrowding. His efforts have transformed how the court interacts with individuals suffering from mental illness, ensuring they receive proper treatment rather than incarceration.
The BHU has become a model for courts and agencies across Michigan and beyond, demonstrating how judicial leadership can enhance mental health services while promoting public safety.
“Helping hundreds of individuals get the treatment they need to stay in recovery and avoid incarceration, hospitalization, and homelessness exemplifies the value and impact of judicial leadership,” writes Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement in a letter congratulating Judge Burton on his achievement, according to a release shared by Michigan Courts.
Andrea Cole, President and CEO of the Flinn Foundation, expressed the organization’s pride in Chief Judge Burton’s accomplishments.
“Chief Judge Burton’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to improving mental health outcomes in our community are inspiring. His work with the Behavioral Health Unit has not only provided essential services to vulnerable individuals but also created a model of care that other jurisdictions can follow. We are immensely proud to have him as our Board Chair and extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honor,” says Cole.
This prestigious award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of law or judicial administration, is a testament to Chief Judge Burton’s tireless work in transforming mental health services within the criminal justice system. The award was announced on October 10, 2024, to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
Chief Judge Burton joins an illustrious group of past recipients of the Treat Award, including the late United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and his former WCPC colleague, Hon. Milton L. Mack, Jr. This recognition not only highlights Chief Judge Burton’s local impact but also positions him as a leader in national conversations about mental health and the law.
The Flinn Foundation congratulates Chief Judge Burton on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to his continued work in improving the lives of individuals with mental illness through compassionate, innovative leadership.
Charita Cole Brown had overcome the most challenging parts of her bipolar diagnosis and had even written a book about her experiences before she connected with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Maryland, where she lives.
Brown’s memoir, Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life, shares her experiences of receiving her diagnosis while in her final year at Wesleyan University. Since that time, Brown has discovered what she needs to thrive. Her book is an inspiration to those whose lives are affected by bipolar disorder.
As a board member of NAMI Maryland, Brown continues to inspire and support individuals with mental health challenges.
“I wanted to be part of an organization that was intentionally helping to support other people so they could live well,” says Brown.
Through the many different programs at NAMI, individuals can learn more about mental health challenges, whether they are experiencing them or are a supportive family member.
From basic information courses to family-to-family support groups and peer support groups, Brown says some NAMI education programs are consistent from chapter to chapter. What she might find in Maryland, others may be able to find in Detroit, for instance.
“The reason NAMI can do so much is because people volunteer their time to be part of this,” she says.
In a short NAMI YouTube documentary series called Strength Over Silence: Stores of Courage, Culture and Community, Brown talks about her experience with mental health in the Black community in a segment called “Shattering Racial Stereotypes.”
“Black people, especially Black women, were always expected to be strong,” she says in the video, describing the stereotype of a Black woman who takes care of others, “and all the while, she’s smiling.”
Despite her reluctance to dredge up all the issues that come with a bipolar disorder diagnosis, Brown says she recognized that she was living well. She knew it was time to share her experiences through her memoir, Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life.
“If one person could get hope from my story and be encouraged to live well, then let’s write the book,” she thought. Her degree in English helped her accomplish this goal.
When she connected with NAMI in 2015, she says she heard people “tell powerful stories of what NAMI had done for them and what NAMI had done for their mental health.”
She knew the power of her own story and had a desire to be part of a grassroots volunteer organization where people shared their lived experiences with mental health.
“I learned from NAMI that it’s OK not to be OK and there is a community of people that are waiting to help you,” she says.
Learn more about Charita Cole Brown and purchase her book, Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life at chartiacolebrown.com. Read the first article in this series about Charita Cole Brown and learn about how her wellness plan helps her thrive on the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation website.
The Detroit-based Ethel and James Flinn Foundation has announced grants awarded for 2024. In all, 54 organizations received $2.6 million in grants from the Flinn Foundation. The goal of the grants is to increase access to mental health treatment to as many individuals in Southeast Michigan as possible. Fourteen organizations received mini grants.
“Our grantee partners are making an incredible impact by providing crucial mental health services for people of all ages in Michigan,” said Andrea Cole, President and CEO of the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation. “We’re proud to support their ongoing work to bring much-needed treatment and resources to our communities.”
Grantee partners are grouped into five program areas, including evidence-based treatment practices for adults, young people or children; capacity building; advocacy support; awareness, education and outreach mini-grant programs; and collaborative partnership initiatives.
Grantee partners are listed below.
Hannan Center in Detroit was awarded $50,000 to provide CBT and case management support to older adults in Detroit who are experiencing self-neglect and related disorders (e.g., hoarding, depression, etc.)
Henry Ford Health System in Detroit was awarded $100,000 to support The Metro Detroit Trauma Recovery Initiative (TRI) to provide trauma-informed and evidence-based behavioral health services and resources to survivors of traumatic injuries.
Henry Ford Health System in Detroit was awarded $100,000 to train physicians to treat alcohol use disorders by implementing screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT).
Henry Ford Health System in Detroit was awarded $100,000 to identify Veterans at risk of suicide and connect them with services by implementing the Zero Suicide Program.
Oakland Community Health Network in Troy was awarded $100,000 to assess and mitigate threats of (mass) violence in Oakland County.
Packard Health of Ann Arbor was awarded $75,000 to support a Nurse Care Manager (NCM) to work with patients and providers in an Office Based Addiction Treatment model.
Southwest Detroit Community Justice Center in Detroit was awarded $100,000 to provide trauma-informed wraparound case management services for individuals and families.
The Guidance Center in Southgate was awarded $50,000 to train 300 clinical and peer support staff with the Zero Overdose “Overdose Safety Plan,” an evidence-based model which bridges a critical gap in how to help people at risk for overdose.
Zaman International in Inkster was awarded $100,000 to provide culturally competent mental health program adapted to meet the needs of immigrant and refugee women.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan in Farmington Hills was awarded $75,000 to offer a range of trauma informed mental health services through the Mentally Fit Program, which includes 1:1 and group therapy, assessments, and academic and tutoring enrichment.
Children’s Center of Wayne County in Detroit was awarded $75,000 to implement developmental screening, assessment, and mental health treatment models in early childhood settings for children (four to six).
Children’s Center of Wayne County in Detroit was awarded $70,000 to implement summer support to ensure year-round care for children in school-based mental health services.
Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network in Detroit was awarded $75,000 to
offer holistic, wraparound services for youth in Wayne County and Detroit who are involved with the juvenile justice system and need behavioral health services.
Henry Ford Health System in Detroit was awarded $75,000 to implement a technology-driven Safety Planning Intervention in pediatric primary care at Henry Ford Health to increase self-help behaviors among individuals who are unable to readily engage with mental health services.
Life Directions in Detroit was awarded $50,000 to implement a program that mitigates effects of trauma among Detroit Hispanic and African American youth.
Oakland Community Health Network in Troy was awarded $75,000 to divert at-risk youth and assist adjudicated youth through interactive journaling.
Samaritas in Detroit was awarded $75,000 to provide innovative substance use disorder treatment focusing on vaping/e-cigarette use for adolescents, foster care, and transitional youth ages 13-19 through the Oakland County clinic.
Wellness Plan Medical Centers Foundation of Detroit was awarded $50,000 to enhance children’s mental health with evidence-based practices.
Downtown Detroit Partnership Inc. of Detroit was awarded $50,000 to connect individuals with mental health challenges and substance abuse disorders in Downtown Detroit to services provided by the Continuum of Care network.
Eastern Michigan University Foundation in Ypsilanti was awarded $50,000 to expand access to evidence-based, trauma-informed child mental health services.
Freedom House Detroit was awarded $50,000 to expand services by providing group therapy for clients.
Lincoln Behavioral Services in Redford was awarded $50,000 to decrease/eliminate bullying, suicidal thoughts/behaviors, school violence and school avoidance in youth.
Orchards Children’s Services Inc. in Southfield was awarded $50,000 to
support cyber security testing of Orchards Children’s Services IT systems.
Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, was awarded $50,000 to develop system dynamics model for adolescent mental health services in Washtenaw County.
Rose Hill Center in Holly was awarded $50,000 to add a Peer Recovery Specialist/Coach as a key component Trauma Informed Care clinical programming.
Ruth Ellis Center Inc. in Highland Park was awarded $50,000 to increase access to home-based services for LGBTQ2S+ youth in Wayne County.
Starfish Family Services in Inkster was awarded $50,000 to train and support clinicians to enhance mental health care and service delivery for vulnerable groups.
The Board of Governors in Detroit was awarded $50,000 to support the Early Childhood Support Clinic (ECSC) to provide evidence-based mental health services to children birth – 5 years and their families.
Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights was awarded $50,000 to support on-site, in-person Motivational Interviewing Training for 153 clinical and direct-care team members who are providing care for foster youth with acute mental health needs and trauma symptoms.
Association for Children’s Mental Health in Lansing was awarded $15,000 for general operating support. ACMH provides advocacy support for individual children and their families across Michigan by focusing on activities to enhance the system of services which address the needs of children with serious emotional disorders.
Autism Alliance of Michigan in Southfield was awarded $25,000 for general operating support. AAoM is an advocacy organization focused on addressing treatment access and support for individuals and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Kevin’s Song in Grosse Pointe Park was awarded $15,000 for general operating support. Kevin’s Song is an advocacy organization that brings families, providers and policymakers together to learn and share evidence-based practices to prevent suicides.
Mental Health Association in Michigan was awarded $50,000 for general operating support. Based in Lansing, MHAM is the state’s oldest nonprofit organization concerned with mental illness and is the leading policy and research advocate.
Michigan’s Children was awarded $65,000 for general operating support. Based in Lansing, Michigan’s Children will bolster the public policy research advocacy capacity of mental health services providers, and youth and families who receive mental health services.
NAMI Metro in Northville was awarded $15,000 for general operating support. Located in southeast Michigan, NAMI Metro’s constituent members cover the Foundation’s geographic focus of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County.
NAMI Michigan in Lansing was awarded $50,000 for general operating support. NAMI Michigan and its statewide affiliates advocate at the state level for persons affected by mental illness and serves as a leading proponent on consumer and family involvement in care, treatment and recovery. NAMI Michigan helps to strengthen local affiliates to provide support within their communities.
NAMI Washtenaw County in Ann Arbor was awarded $15,000 for general operating support. Located in southeast Michigan, NAMI Washtenaw County constituent members cover the Foundation’s geographic focus of Washtenaw County.
Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health in Southgate was awarded $5,000 to support education and training for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health workforce.
American Citizens for Justice Inc. in Westland was awarded $5,000 to provide resources/referrals for victims of hate crimes/racism for healing from resulting trauma and depression.
City Connect Detroit was awarded $5,000 to develop a town hall event to foster meaningful cross-sector conversations and work collaboratively toward collective responses to support youth mental wellness and self-care for direct service providers. City Connect Detroit is based in Detroit.
Growth Works Inc. in Plymouth was awarded $5,000 to empower communities in Western Wayne County to prevent youth suicide through comprehensive education and collaboration.
Harlee and Harper Women’s Association in Eastpointe was awarded $5,000 to provide expectant and new mothers mental health support, promoting healthy pregnancies and postpartum experiences.
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit was awarded $5,000 to engage with residents in its vicinity about mental health needs and related educational programming.
Oakland University in Rochester was awarded $5,000 to provide children’s group support for trauma, grief and loss.
Recovery Action Network of Michigan in Canton was awarded $5,000 to provide substance use disorder recovery support through community outreach and education.
Self-Care Sanctuary in Detroit was awarded $5,000 to support the Self Care Series created to educate residents about the importance of self-care and mental wellness.
Teacher’s Pet: Dogs and Kids Learning Together in Shelby Township. Was awarded $5,000 to provide a holistic animal-assisted support program to address social-emotional learning, and mental wellness.
The Family Center of Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods in Grosse Pointe Farms was awarded $5,000 to support the Tri-annual community book club featuring a panel of local therapists and physicians.
Washtenaw Area Council for Children in Ypsilanti was awarded $5,000 to educate students and keep them safe from risks online and on social media.
Wayne Center in Detroit was awarded $5,000 to support Parent/Caregiver Support Group to promote self-care and mental health awareness for parents/caregivers of consumers.
Wayne County Probate Court in Detroit was awarded $5,000 to provide awareness and education regarding the behavioral health tools available from the Probate Court.
Metro Solutions in Southfield was awarded $100,000 to support collaborative to address disparities and inequities in accessing physical and mental health among BIPOC Michiganders. Funders partnered with trusted, Black-led community-based organizations to develop or further develop sustainable partnerships between the organizations and safety net health care providers to increase access to high quality, mental health care offered in primary care settings.
Monroe County Intermediate School District in Monroe was awarded $50,000 to implement a comprehensive suicide prevention curriculum designed to address the critical mental health needs of K-12 students.
The Board of Governors (aka WSU) in Detroit was awarded $200,000 to continue implementing the Sequential Intercept Model in Wayne County facilitated by the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice aimed at diverting people with behavioral health conditions away from the criminal justice system into community treatment.
In an ambitious effort to transform behavioral health crisis response across the United States, the Behavioral Health Emergency Response Initiative (BHERi) convened national- and state-level funders and key stakeholders for the BHERi Impact Lab in April 2024.
Hosted by the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management and the Flinn Foundation, this two-day event was held at the Detroit Athletic Club. The primary objective of the Impact Lab was to maximize innovation and develop strategies in Michigan and other states to improve the lives of those experiencing behavioral health crises. The long-term vision is to create actionable plans to scale Behavioral Health Emergency Response (BHER) systems across the nation that address mental health crises effectively, minimize the likelihood of harm, arrest or unnecessary emergency department visits.
Stakeholders considered broad levers such as financing and workforce development to facilitate statewide scaling. The aim, overall, is to reduce the reliance on emergency departments, prisons and jails for treating acute behavioral health issues.
The BHER initiative members are working collectively to create a future where behavioral health crises are managed with care, efficiency, and compassion. As a partner in this initiative, the Flinn Foundation looks forward to additional progress in the months to come.
On June 24-25, 2024, the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation’s Andrea Cole attended a special convening of global foundations as part of the Global Leadership Exchange on Mental Health.
The invitation-only event was held in Brussels, Belgium, and gathered key foundations from around the world to discuss shared challenges and opportunities around climate anxiety, democratic anxiety and the impact of social media on mental health.
One key element to the conversation was the harmful impact of social media and technology on young people and families.
“The loss of connection and social interaction that we all need as humans is something all mental health foundations and health organizations are worried about,” says Cole. “We discussed how to best lift up this information so parents and families know the damage that social media and device use is causing.”
As more research shows the effects of continuous device and social media use by young people, Cole predicts mental health organizations will share increased messaging about the relative harms.
“I look forward to connecting further with mental health foundations on a global scale. There is so much we can learn from each other and achieve when we collaborate as we did in Brussels,” Cole says.
Depression had became my best friend
She entered my life in a time when no one was around me and offered me her lies and comfort until she got me then she turned around and hurt me
She loves to spend time with me
She likes it when it’s just us so she can get to me personally on a different level
And she loves to talk a lot
Her words racing through my mind
She is a stubborn one because anytime someone opposes what she tells me, she assures me they are lying to me and are selfish,
You see she wants me all to herself and forces me to push away anyone else but it’s okay right?
Because we’re besties and she knows what’s best for me
And she closes me off from people so they can’t hurt me because when I let people in they hurt me
She’s protective over me
She convinces me to sleep all day because when I’m sleep I can’t feel and when I can’t feel you can’t hurt me
She tells me no one really cares about me
She tells me she’s all I have
Her fake comfort and lies draw me back in
Then she turns around and hurts me again
by R. Love
For young people and suicide risk, the numbers tell the story. According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for children ages 10-14.
“I think people know that. But the bigger factor is that it’s increasing,” says Brian Galdes, Suicide Prevention Coordinator with Western Wayne Suicide Prevention Coalition. “(Suicide) used to be the third leading cause of death and now it’s the second leading cause of death. The numbers are going up, not down.”
It’s Galdes’ job to pay attention to these numbers — and work with local school districts to help move the statistics in the other direction. But Galdes also has a deeply personal reason for his passion for preventing youth suicide. His stepdaughter, Bethany, died by suicide at 17. “She was an honor student, beautiful, very artistic and had an engaging personality. She also battled with depression. Because of the depression, she did not see herself in that way,” he says.
About 10 years ago, in response to a community needs assessment, Trinity Health established the Western Wayne Suicide Prevention Coalition (WWSPC). Then, four years ago, Galdes reached out to Nick Griswold, CEO at Growth Works, a behavioral health agency based in Wayne County, to ask how they could work together to further the initiative on student mental health and suicide prevention. Growth Works committed to provide funding for a full-time coordinator role at WWSPC — an action that helped the organization gain focus and traction. Galdes is the second individual to fill the coordinator role (the first, also a former educator, retired and moved up north) and WWSPC is funded in part by a grant from the Flinn Foundation.
WWSPC members include: Northville Public Schools, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Livonia Public Schools, Wayne-Westland Community Schools, South Redford School District, Redford Union Schools, Garden City Public Schools, Clarenceville School District, Taylor School District, Corewell Health and Trinity Health.
In all, WWSPC represents about 65,000 students. Galdes recognizes this number for what it means in relation to other CDC statistics related to youth mental health and suicide:
“If you look at a school district like Northville, the high school has about 2,600 students. If you extrapolate that 9%, the number would be 230 Northville High School students have attempted a suicide in the last 12 months,” he says. “I’m not saying that there’s a documented 230, but if you just extrapolate those numbers,” you get an idea of the impact.
“This crosses socioeconomic standards, this crosses race, this crosses religion. This really is everybody’s problem,” he adds.
Initially, WWSPC brought together social workers and counselors from the nine districts for an open conversation and to explore effective ways to support them and the students they serve. A steering committee was formed with two individuals from each district: one boots-on-the-ground person who works with students and one district-level decision making administrator with direct access to the superintendent.
“We’ve trained about 5,500 adults, bus drivers, teachers, administrators, crossing guards, in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer),” Galdes says, adding that it’s a goal to also train every high school student in QPR. Every district and both hospital systems have agreed to use a common screener.
“And so now people are talking the same when they’re talking to kids and families in crisis,” he says. “We also provide a lot of professional development for mental health professionals that work in schools.” Each fall, WWSPC hosts a conference, with 350 attendees last year and an anticipated 450 this year.
Silos are beginning to evaporate because districts now have a network of like-minded people to brainstorm with and provide mutual support. This is especially helpful when suicides do occur because support staff can come in from a neighboring districts to provide help that is one step removed. And, local legislators have visited the schools, talked with staff and toured the emergency room at Trinity Health Livonia to learn more about adolescent mental health.
The coalition has also developed subcommittees to research solutions for common issues and concerns and best practices. Other initiatives developed by the coalition since 2021 include establishing a data collection system to measure program effectiveness and to help maintain funding to support ongoing work.
In 2024-2025 and beyond, WWSPC will focus on:
In 2023, Trinity Health Livonia received the Ludwig Award from the Michigan Hospital Association for its partnership with and support of WWSPC, an honor that included $5,000 “to assist in health improvement efforts.”
Every initiative the WWSPC launches is designed to continue putting resources into the schools to help students and families, Galdes says. “We really have to attack stigma. It’s a huge impediment to us making a big difference to moving that needle down as opposed to that needle still going up,” he says, quoting a University of Michigan survey that estimates 40,000 adolescents in Michigan identified as having a mental health condition, but aren’t getting treatment due to stigma, access to care or affordability.
“I keep telling my steering committee this is a marathon. It’s not a sprint,” says Galdes. “It’s going to take time but we have to do something. We have to make a difference. Ten percent of our high school students have attempted suicide — it’s just not acceptable.”
This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. Learn more about Western Wayne Suicide Prevention Coalition through Growth Works. Visit gwcares.org.
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is laser-focused on the mental health of its students. Since 2020, through a partnership with TRAILS, school-based staff at DPSCD have provided evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness sessions to help students manage common mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, worried thoughts and avoidant behaviors.
TRAILS is an acronym for “Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students,” and was established initially through funding from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, along with other organizations and philanthropic foundations.
A 2018 comprehensive needs assessment netted responses from 3,000 DPSCD staff and more than 12,000 students, according to Alycia Meriweather, Deputy Superintendent at DPSCD. TRAILS CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and Mindfulness is designed to be delivered by school behavioral health professionals, including school counselors, social workers and psychologists.
Since launching, TRAILS has grown. At the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic, TRAILS responded by developing a group manual to be delivered virtually by school staff. TRAILS and DPSCD also collaborated with Children’s Hospital of Michigan and New Oakland Family Services to establish a suicide risk assessment and protocol tool and a confidential two-way communication loop.
“This protocol serves as a communication tool for external providers, school staff and families to better understand students’ needs, while keeping schools up to date about the students they refer for support,” Meriweather explains.
In the 2023-2024 school year, nearly 1,000 students at DPSCD participated in the CBT and Mindfulness program, either in groups or individually, Meriweather reports.
Currently, DPSCD and TRAILS are evaluating the overall effectiveness of the CBT and Mindfulness program through a randomized controlled trial that assesses student mental health and academic achievement outcomes.
When they participate in the CBT and Mindfulness programs, students develop valuable skills they can use across the lifespan. To date, 94 school-based staff have been trained in the program.
In addition to TRAILS, DPSCD supports student well-being with counselors and/or social workers at every school. DPSCD also partners with community based organizations to provide behavioral health services to various groups of students: whole school, small groups and individuals.
The start of the school year is significant for student well-being, says Dr. Angelita Jacobs, Executive Director, Whole Child Support at DPSCD.
“Transitioning from a less structured environment back to a more structured school setting in the fall can positively impact the behavioral/mental health of students by providing a sense of security through established routines, decreased anxiety with planned activities, increased positive engagement with others, personalized attention from teachers and school staff, and access to additional supports and resources,” she says, adding that all of these elements can enhance overall well-being for students.
Through proactive strategies and interventions, teachers, staff and administrators at DPSCD attend to the social, emotional, psychological, physical and academic development of students, Jacobs says.
These strategies foster “prosocial behaviors which contribute to a climate and culture where students feel valued, respected and connected to their peers and school,” she says.
“Access to supportive behavioral/mental health services through community partners allows students to receive additional assistance in a convenient, familiar environment. By intentionally addressing mental health — which is a foundational part of overall behavioral health — students are being further equipped to thrive personally and academically.”
Learn more about Detroit Public Schools Community District at detroitk12.org/families.