C.H.I.P.'s History
- In 2010, SAMHSA, (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) convened the 2010 Community Leaders and Interfaith Partnership Summit. The purpose was to share a vision for responding to the needs of those affected by substance abuse and mental health disorders through community-level collaborations. The Atlanta team, representing a wide variety of faith and community-based organizations, both public and private, focused on the particular challenges facing our community and our unique assets and resources.
Fifteen participants from our community spent time each day becoming better informed about SAMHSA, its structure and its people, and the variety of resources it offers for support, planning, educational events, and technical assistance, and about successful program models.
Some of the most valuable time we spent was meeting with our community partners in discussions led by SAMHSA furnished facilitators. We dreamed of the differnce we could make working together and then got practical about what it would take to accomplish our vision.
Following the summit, the Atlanta team sought diverse group of partners including clinicians, service providers, faith-baed nonprofits, public agencies, and concerned citizens to increase our capacity to undertake significant work in the community. The group adopted the name C.H.I.P., Community Health Interfaith Partnership. We continued to benefit from the services of Kevin Monroe, SAMHSA consultant and from frequent coaching calls with team building consultants.
- We have partnered with SAMHSA to offer a comprehesive capacity building workshop and plan to offer a continuation of that training.
- With Mental Health America GA ( a coalition partner) we have offered a free Mental Health First Aid Training in the East Point community of Atlanta and will offer another in the summer of 2013.
- We are on the planning committee for the TriRegional Faith & Community Health Summit, where at least 1000 participants from the interfaith community will find out about ways to minister to the health needs of the community more effectively.
- At this October 2013 summit we will present our Clergy Tool Kit for Mental Health Ministry Development in a session designated for mental health.
- This summit will offer our partners opportunity to present their individuals programs in cafe sessions.
- We have this fledgling website and will continue to make it more robust as our members become accustomed to sending everything to our site administrator.
- We send emails to a list of around 200 people interested in mental health services, prevention through resilience, updating them on the latest events and resources.
