10 Collaboratives, 1 Mission

Mission: to support Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area communities in their efforts to inclusively and collaboratively transform the environments where people live, learn, work, play, and pray to support resiliency, mental health, equity, and wellbing in everyday life for all members of their community, with a specific focus on children and youth of color and their families.

Communities of Care is a five-year, $11.5 million initiative that supports collaborative approaches to wellbeing in the greater Houston Metropolitan Area, with a focus on children and youth of color and their families. Its goal is to strengthen efforts to transform the environments where people live, learn, work, play, and pray to support resilience, mental health, and wellbeing.

Communities of Care is funded by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, which works collaboratively to transform how communities promote mental health in everyday life. Prevention Institute coordinates the initiative, which brings together diverse partners from across sectors and community members to plan and implement activities that address a wide range of community needs related to resilience, mental health, equity, and wellbeing.
 

One of the things that’s important about this initiative is the involvement of children, youth, and families in identifying and shaping activities that foster mental wellbeing; whether it’s through the arts or spaces where people can connect or improvements to parks, gardens, and recreation areas—they will help us tap into the community’s natural strengths and make them stronger.

- Sheila Savannah, Prevention Institute

 

Communities of Care

 

Communities of Care approach

Communities of Care promotes mental health and wellbeing through community-level prevention solutions, such as fostering social connections, improving the built environment, and increasing access to economic opportunity. By enhancing and strengthening protective factors and resilience through these and other activities, communities that face significant barriers to wellbeing can achieve vibrant mental and behavioral health.

To learn more about this community-level prevention approach to mental health and wellbeing, read about the Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing initiative, funded by the Movember Foundation and coordinated by PI.

Communities of Care Year 3 Showcase

In August 2022, all 10 collaboratives gave a presentation on their work in year 3 of the initiative. Watch the full video recording here, and find their individual presentations linked below.

Asian Americans Attaining Awareness

Under the theme of "Transforming Our Communities Collectively," in November 2023, more than 300 community advocates, youth, and thought leaders came together in Houston for the Young Minds Matter Conference. Co-hosted by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and Prevention Institute, the conference is part of a movement shaping the future of mental health and fostering healing, justice, and connection.

Mental Health & Wellbeing