Overview of the Mentorship Program
The primary goal of the African American Behavioral Health Diversity Leadership Fellows Academy is to continue to establish a higher level of cultural awareness among practitioners and leaders in the behavioral health field. In this model, we envision mentors as a critical element in building leadership and transferring knowledge that is not available through formal education. Our mentors will be seasoned professionals with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the field, characterized by their cultural competence in serving underrepresented communities of color.
Our desire in the Mentorship Program is to create both a legacy for experienced practitioners and an opportunity to transfer knowledge and practical insights to the next generation of practitioners. Our slogan for the Academy is “Honoring Our Past While Acknowledging the Present and Celebrating Our Future.” The African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (AABH CoE) is committed to ensuring that our Diversity Leadership Academy engages mentors who will support and further this the vision.
The Leadership Fellows Academy is designed to mentor and develop African Americans, whom the data confirm are sustaining the impact of behavioral health conditions at disproportionately high levels, compared to their counterparts in other races and cultures. The practitioners serving this population encounter specific challenges that the COE is designed to address through:
- Evidenced-based practices based on data collected by practitioners
- Interventions based on trends in specific communities of African Americans
- Leadership training and coaching/mentoring
- Safe Spaces
We want to play a significant role in eradicating the disparities in behavioral health care and treatment for African Americans by creating culturally competent and culturally supported training for future leaders in the field.
Program components are outlined below:
- Kick-off Immersion Training- The program commences with a 4.5 intensive culturally sensitive leadership development training focusing on the “whole leader”. The session explores best practices to focus on self-care and leadership principles and practices with an emphasis on African Americans as well as community building.
- Five 90 Minute Webinars- Guest Speaker Series is designed to enhance the Fellows learning and to continue to build our learning community. We will have a speaker series in which professionals in the field will host a 90-minute webinar on relevant topics and emerging trends in Behavioral Health.
- Coaching/Mentoring- Experienced professional in Behavioral Health support and provide guidance to Fellows learning.
- Results Service Project- Each Fellow is required to identify a “Result” they would like to see completed within the six-month program period. The “Results Service Project” must be in the area of Behavioral Health and have a measurable impact on the African American Community. More specific information will be provided at the Immersion training.
- Two Day Booster Training- leadership skills development will continue.
- Graduation-September 2023
Meet Our Graduates
Brittany Jones
Newark, NJ
Project Title: Couregous Conversations: How to Navigate Advocating for Yourself as a Pregnant Black Woman
Email | LinkedIn
Tamara Johns
Houston, TX
Project Title: Mental Health is Whole Health
Email | LinkedIn
Devan Stoglin
Waco, TX
Project Title: Schizophrenia: A Health Concern for U.S African Decent Population
Email | LinkedIn
Simone Davis
Augusta, GA
Project Title: "A United Force" - Operationalizing Relationships Among Behavioral Health Professionals
Email | LinkedIn
Ebony Harris
Jana LeBert
Project Title: Closing the Divide: Reducing Stigma through Multigenerational Conversations about Mental Health
Email | LinkedIn
Kaneisha Gaston
Atlanta, GA
Project Title: African American Women and Opioids: Understanding the Crisis
Email
Karon Hopkins
West Columbia, SC
Project Title: Raising Awareness of Cultural Humility in Behavioral Health
Email | LinkedIn
Tamara Cunningham
Ryanna Hawkins
Newark, NJ
Project Title: Family Connections without Bars
Email | LinkedIn