The “Called to Care” Wellness Webinar series is designed to equip and empower pastors, lay leaders, and church members with practical tools to respond to those challenged by relational, emotional, and mental health challenges with the love and care of Jesus. We desire to prepare the Church to respond to community needs by raising awareness, equipping responders, and coordinating local resources.
During each session, we will be highlighting a community partner providing mental health services in the community to raise awareness of available resources in our area. We are also compiling a referral list of various types of mental health service providers. For more information on how to be included in this list or to view the list, please contact thomasina@houstonresponds.org
Wellness Webinar Series - 4 sessions:
February 8th
Topic: Mental Health Care Basics and the Referral Process
Speaker:Mellonie Baldwin-Coach Mel-is a licensed
Therapist, and Coach with her own successful practice, Achor Counseling & Associates LLC. She has helped hundreds of clients overcome adversity and
attain their desired success. Through her counseling/coaching practice, she continues to help everyone reach their maximum potential.
Featured Community partner: TBD from National Alliance of Mental Health Houston https://www.namigreaterhouston.org not-for-profit organization dedicated to caring for those living with mental illnesses, providing free education programs, promoting development of community mental health programs and services, and increasing awareness and understanding of how we help families and people impacted.
February 15th
Topic: The Responsibility Model – How to Talk to People in Crisis
Speaker: Ascencion Amado – Ascencion is the Director of Outreach at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church. This department oversees services such as financial assistance for rent or utilities, projects serving various communities/areas of need like refugees & immigrants, indigent, pregnant moms in crisis, mental health therapy, incarcerated, disabilities, elderly, families experiencing crisis in general. She holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from Trinity College of Graduate Studies in California.
Featured Community partner: Mighty Oaks Foundation https://www.mightyoaksprograms.org - Veteran Recovery Programs & Support) ... dedicated to serving those who have served us as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or as First Responders and dealing with trauma, providing care through peer-based programs to help men and women overcome past experiences and move forward into a life of purpose.
February 22nd
Topic: Exploring Programming Options for Grief, Trauma, etc.
Speaker: Lauren Coetzee - Lauren is passionate about helping people deal with the hardships and heartaches of life. She is a mental health professional, trainer, and trauma healing facilitator.
Featured Community partner: Jennifer Roberts from Hope Squad https://hopesquad.com ... providing peer-to-peer suicide prevention and public awareness/education in over 1,2000 schools across the nation and in the Houston area, working with educators and mental health professionals to change the culture of care and support for this specific need within our families, churches, and neighborhoods.
February 29th
Topic: How to Start a Mental Health Care Ministry in Your Church
Speaker: Shannon Thomas, LPC and Pastor at Woodlands Church
Featured Community partner: Mariana Barahona from Gateway to Hope Churches https://mentalhealthgateway.org/gth-churches ... mobilizing people to effectively and compassionately meet the holistic needs of those who live with mental health challenges, seeking to empower, renew, and transform support drawing on care and compassion from the faith community, and extending that support with training and tools into our churches, workplaces, and throughout the community.