United Manner Broward’s Coalition on Behavioral Well being & Drug Prevention
Emilia Vilaire-Monchery, VP, Group Impression, Youth Alternative
Maria Hernandez, LCSW, Chief Impression Officer
Aisha McDonald, LMHC, Director, Coaching Initiatives
Margaret Borges, Director, Youth Alternative
Janine Ribeiro, LMHC-QS, VP, Wholesome Group
Angela Ventura, Director, Group Based mostly Methods
954-462-4850 | UnitedWayBroward.org | DrugFreeBroward.org | UnitedForSeniors.org
Who’s affected by behavioral well being and substance misuse?
Behavioral well being and substance use have an effect on each household, each neighborhood, and each sector of our group. Whether or not by means of private expertise or somebody we love, practically all of us have been touched by challenges with psychological well being, substance misuse, or suicide. Nobody is immune, and that’s the reason prevention, early intervention, and group collaboration are extra vital than ever.
What’s United Manner Broward’s Coalition on Behavioral Well being and Drug Prevention?
For greater than 85 years, United Manner Broward has introduced a complete strategy to each problem, actively listening and responding to native wants. In response to the continued psychological well being and substance misuse in our group, United Manner established the Coalition on Behavioral Well being & Drug Prevention.
The Coalition mobilizes healthcare suppliers, colleges, legislation enforcement, native authorities, faith-based teams, nonprofits, companies, and residents to create a unified response, backed by information, for the behavioral well being wants of our group. By means of complete group assessments, direct providers, city halls, listening classes, and cross-sector partnerships, we establish rising wants, elevate group voices, and co-create sustainable options which can be altering and saving lives.
How important is the necessity for psychological well being and behavioral well being sources?
The necessity is critical. Multiple in 5 U.S. adults experiences a psychological well being situation every year, and suicide stays one of many main causes of loss of life amongst younger individuals. Substance use continues to devastate households: Broward County recorded greater than 400 deadly overdoses in 2024, and emergency medical providers responded to greater than 4,500 overdose incidents. These numbers embrace mother and father, youngsters, associates, coworkers, and neighbors whose lives have been altered without end.
What impression does the Coalition have on the group?
Whereas the necessity is clearly there, the Coalition is dedicated to altering the present actuality. We’re seeing change! Collectively, we’re altering the dialog round behavioral well being by lowering stigma, increasing prevention, growing consciousness, and investing in life-changing applications. By means of robust partnerships throughout our group, we’re creating protected, trusted areas the place individuals really feel seen, supported, and empowered to hunt assist, paving the way in which for more healthy people, stronger households, and extra resilient communities.
Each initiative we lead is grounded in proof, knowledgeable by group enter, and pushed by the unequivocal perception that prevention works. Our schooling prevention has reached 70,000+ shoppers and 12,500+ households. And as a direct outcome, Broward County continues to expertise a year-over-year decline in overdose deaths, reflecting the optimistic impression of coordinated prevention efforts, group partnerships, schooling, and public consciousness.
What are a number of the key applications that the group can get entangled with?
The Coalition has coordinated greater than 80 group engagement actions. Just a few of them embrace:
• South Florida Behavioral Well being Convention
• Broward Youth Coalition
• Youth Management Institute
• Rise Above Stigma Symposiums
• United For Seniors (obtain the app at UnitedForSeniors.org)
It’s also possible to go to the Prevention Useful resource Middle on our web site or be a part of certainly one of our Motion Groups.
How can somebody name for assist or get entangled?
We invite you to affix us in our journey to scale back the stigma, normalize conversations round psychological well being, and join people to the varied group sources obtainable both by means of United Manner Broward or our associate companies. Go to UnitedWayBroward.org for extra info.
