According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, natural disasters are prime examples of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which research has linked to poor health outcomes later in life.

The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation, a national philanthropy dedicated to preventing and mitigating ACEs, is helping the region recover from this impact of Tropical Storm Helene by awarding a pair of grants to two Asheville-based organizations – YMCA of Western North Carolina and NAMI Western Carolina. The grants will make youth and family mental health programs at both organizations more accessible to the local community at a time when they’re most needed.

“The image of seeing their homes, their whole neighborhood, or town, washed away is undoubtedly traumatic for children. And this is on top of the stress these children experienced from being displaced from their homes, schools, and other familiar environments,” said Dr. Nerissa Price, behavioral health medical director for AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina, one of the state’s Medicaid standard plans. “These grants from the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation will help more local children and families overcome this tragedy and develop resilience to face mental health challenges in their lives.”

YMCA of Western North Carolina’s Youth Mental Health First Aid program trains adults, including parents, caregivers, and professionals serving children with tools to help them identify, understand, and respond to someone who might be struggling with a mental health challenge. The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation’s $25,000 grant will make this program more accessible to Spanish-speakers. The grant will allow the YMCA of Western North Carolina to provide live Spanish interpretation during trainings, offer program manuals in Spanish, and host community information sessions to build trust with Spanish-speaking communities.

“At the YMCA of Western North Carolina, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health,” said Maria Suarez, community teen director for the YMCA of Western North Carolina. “This funding allows us to expand critical Youth Mental Health First Aid training for Spanish-speaking communities, equipping more adults with the knowledge and tools to support young people's well- being. By breaking down language barriers and increasing access to resources, we are creating stronger, healthier communities where every young person has the support they need to thrive."

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)’s Asheville-based chapter, NAMI Western Carolina, will use the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation’s $50,000 grant to fund two initiatives: 

1) Bringing NAMI’s Family Support Group for Parents of Teens to Buncombe County, including the recruiting and training of the support group’s volunteer leaders, all of whom have lived

experience of supporting a child with a mental illness. 2) Implementing NAMI’s Ending the Silence program, an education program for middle and high schoolers that will teach them the warning signs of mental health conditions and encourage them to seek help. NAMI Western Carolina will offer the program to local public, charter, and private schools.

NAMI is an alliance of more than 600 local affiliates who work in communities nationwide to raise awareness of mental health and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

“We greatly appreciate the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation’s support for our efforts to help youth and their families regain a sense of normalcy and ensure they feel seen and heard,” said NAMI Western Carolina Executive Director Robin Payne. “We believe in the power of community-based and peer-led support and know that this type of work can truly change lives.” 

The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation presented the grants at AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina’s Wellness and Opportunity Center in Asheville.

Photo Caption: The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to YMCA of Western North Carolina to make its Youth Mental Health First Aid program more accessible to Spanish-speakers. Pictured, from left to right, are AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Market President Heidi Chan; AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Behavioral Health Medical Director Dr. Nerissa Price; YMCA of Western North Carolina Vice President of Operations Melissa Wiedeman; YMCA of Western North Carolina Community Teen Director Maria Suarez; AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation Director Lauren Maloney; and YMCA of Western North

Carolina Senior Director of Development Ryan Wilson.

Source: AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation.