What We Do
Mental Health Challenges, Homelessness or Addiction
African descendants’ communities tend to rely on family, religious and social communities for emotional support rather than turning to health care professionals, even though this may be necessary.
Mental Heath
Most African immigrants brought with them their cultural beliefs influenced views of mental health and mental illness, which are distinctly different from normative U. S. perspectives, resources and interventions. African cultures consider spiritual phenomena as fundamental to success and well being in life.
Religious beliefs include the notion that individuals who pass away transform into ascended masters and unseen ancestral spirits who involve themselves in daily affairs, including protection from evil forces, good fortune, success during day-to-day undertakings, marital relationships, and prevention of mental illness. Mental illness is viewed as spiritual possession or beliefs that demons, gods, idols, or spirits can take control of a human body.
American mental health care systems do not recognize the unique challenges of African immigrants. Individuals who belong to ethnically diverse minority population groups including African immigrants receive less treatment than the rest of the American population, even though the demand for mental health care services is comparable.
Language dissimilarities and communication impediments, distrust of the American mental health care system, higher rates of health coverage, and financial hardship are main explanations offered by ethnic and racial minorities for not seeking treatment.
Outreach Education and Advocacy
Hope Alive Foundation (H A F) has a culturally and linguistically competent program for Health education activities to increase awareness and decrease stigmatization about mental health, Physical health, and substance abuse in ways that are culturally congruent to the African Immigrant communities. We organize community social activities like music and arts. This Program assists communities beyond the core of mental health services. During workshops, we address the problems and challenges the community faces as other challenges like obtaining access to important services and assistance. This includes;
- Securing employment
- Forms of registration (e.g. social security, driver’s license)
- Community integration
- Training (Training/vocational)
- Leadership development and advocacy
- Peace Advocacy
Homelessness
At Hope Alive Foundation (HAF) we are feeding the homeless in Tacoma Pierce county and Lakewood during the day and we are growing to be a Permanent/Transitional housing provider and support services to families experiencing homelessness due to challenges and hardships.