Press Releases
Recovery Corps, American Red Cross announce second round of Emotional and Mental Health programs across Louisana
Activities aimed at reducing stress and trauma related to 2005 storms
Baton Rouge, La. (May 1, 2008) - The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, in partnership with the American Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program (HRP), has announced 21 new grants for emotional health and community wellness programs to assist hurricane-impacted individuals and families in communities all across Louisiana.
The $3.2 million Building Community Resilience Program was launched last fall and provides funds for activities designed to address the recovery needs of specific communities to reduce the Katrina- and Rita-related depression and post-traumatic stress many face. Organizations have been funded to provide wellness programming in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport.
"The emotional and mental toll of Katrina and Rita is still an everyday struggle for many families, much as what was experienced in the September 11 terrorist attacks according to many studies," said Raymond A. Jetson, chief executive officer of the Recovery Corps. "These lingering anxieties and traumas must continue to be addressed head-on. Minimizing and eliminating these barriers are vital to the long-term recovery of our communities."
"Many of the programs that these funds will support are aimed at the youngest survivors," said Jacqueline Yannacci, Program Manager for the HRP Emotional Support Program. "Almost three years after Katrina, many are still struggling because they are reminded daily of the devastation that Katrina brought."
For many survivors, the recovery has resulted in frustration, mental distress and overwhelming emotional obstacles preventing survivors from joining communities and social settings. In addition to providing wellness programs to individuals and families, the Building Community Resiliency grants help to simultaneously rebuild the capacity of local nonprofits in order to again serve their communities.
The following Building Community Resilience programs and organizations have been funded:
- Mental Health America Louisiana, an initiative to promote positive self-image and self-esteem among female children and adolescents in multiple parishes, including the Monroe and Lafayette areas;
- Bringing Hope to the Community, psycho-educational classes for trauma victims including more than 150 children in rural areas across the state;
- Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training (VIET), educational and economic training for Vietnamese children to adjust to post-Katrina life;
- Hope Worldwide; community arts and community integration activities to provide educational recreation and to promote literacy;
- New Life Counseling and Health Centers, LLC, after school programming services aimed at counseling, community integration, conflict resolution, substance abuse, trauma recovery, and seminars for families in the Shreveport area;
- Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, arts and cultural programs for the residents of FEMA's trailer park, Renaissance Village;
- Focus on Families, direct services to more than 160 children from pre-kindergarten to third grade to adjust to life in post-Katrina Orleans and Jefferson parishes;
- NO AIDS, educational support for HIV positive citizens in the Greater New Orleans area;
- Joshua and Caleb Community Development, social networking and community integration activities for individuals residing in the Greater Baton Rouge area and surrounding parishes;
- Second Chance Marriage and Family Services, family and marriage counseling services including parenting and life skills for couples adjusting to post-Katrina life;
- YOUTHanasia, cultural arts and after-school programs for at-risk youth to encourage positive self expression and lessen anxiety through spoken word poetry, music, art, dance, and educational tutoring;
- Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies, wellness workshops to prepare human service professionals residing in hurricane impacted areas to self identify and screen for disaster related mental distress and disorders, and how to make appropriate referrals to mental health care;
- Samaritan Counseling Center of Imperial Calcasieu, Inc., mental health forums, educational support and training for first responders and clergy in the Lake Charles area;
- Isaiah Institute of New Orleans, technical assistance, logistics training and support for 20-25 congregations and churches recovering form hurricane Katrina in the Greater New Orleans area;
- Family Hope Center of New Orleans, mental health services and community activities for at-risk youth in the New Orleans area;
- Louisiana Association for the Education of Homeless Children (LAEHCY), advocacy and community integration services for homeless, hurricane impacted children addressing psychological and safety needs;
- Mosque of the Merciful, collaboration with the New Orleans Recovery School District to provide resilience classes for struggling students and at-risk, inner city youth in New Orleans;
- Greater St. Mary Community Development Foundation, faith and community outreach in the Lake Charles area;
- Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership
- Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), youth enhancement programming, case management and educational support services to 50 inner city young adults in New Orleans ; and
- Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, for the identification, advocacy, and referral for treatment of hurricane impacted persons living with Sickle Cell Anemia that have relocated to the Greater Baton Rouge area.
Programs are set to continue through December 2008.
For more information on the American Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program, contact Jeanne Ellinport at 202/303-4585. For more information about the Building Community Resilience grant program or the Recovery Corps, contact J.T. Lane at 225/381-3915.
About the Recovery Corps
The Recovery Corps, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Baton Rouge, La., coordinates humanitarian services for the State of Louisiana in the aftermath of disaster, natural and manmade. Formed in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Recovery Corps assists families and individuals with their comprehensive recovery needs through its human service and non-profit partners in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and across Louisiana. The Recovery Corps has assisted more than 30,000 households with recovery planning, housing, children's services and emotional well-being needs since January 2006. To learn more or donate, visit www.recoverycorps.org.
About the American Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program
The American Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program (HRP) is committed to helping survivors on the road to recovery while providing careful stewardship and accountability for the resources entrusted to it by the American public.
