Our community needs Navigators
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Mental Health America (of which PMH is a chapter) and NAMI and ten other leading mental health and substance use organizations issued a joint statement this past Wednesday following the announcement of widespread staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These cuts put vital programs at risk; including those addressing suicide prevention, substance use, overdose, and behavioral health services.
“We are deeply alarmed by widespread, immediate staffing cuts and dismantling of entire offices occurring at HHS.” – quote from statement
Virginia and the U.S. are in the midst of a mental health crisis, with more children and adults than ever before facing serious mental health challenges. In addition, the opioid epidemic is still ongoing with new synthetic opioid distribution happening both in the cities and rural communities close by. 2025 has brought with it unprecedented events on both global and local fronts. However, the Greater Charlottesville area in history has demonstrated exceptional resilience and a call to action in the face of adversity. Our team of Navigators and leadership address the critical demands for mental healthcare navigation, and the partnership grants and funding we depend on are in jeopardy. We need your continued support to build a community best able to support its members living with mental health challenges.
Your donations go to address client needs such as crisis intervention response calls and follow-ups, initial appointment costs, housing applications, food insecurity navigation, and adequate staffing. These are just a few of the ways your help has made an impact.
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Peer Recovery Specialists are essential to PMH’s work
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Last year, Partner for Mental Health grew substantially thanks to your support and our partnerships with Albemarle County Regional Jail’s
Re-entry Program, as well as Albemarle County’s HART program and Charlottesville City’s ANCHOR team. Not only did we strengthen the HART team with an additional Navigators, we were also essential in helping to create Charlottesville City’s ANCHOR team. Both of these alternative response teams respond to 911 and 988 calls related to mental health and substance use emergencies. These teams help keep the community safe through acts of violence prevention and diversion from justice systems. HART, ANCHOR, and ACRJ Re-entry as well as the Albemarle Charlottesville Therapeutic Docket employ Peer Recovery Specialists as Community Navigators to work collaboratively with other mental health and justice system professionals.
As defined by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health, Peer support services are delivered by Peer Supporters with lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges and recovery from these challenges. Additionally, Peer Supporters are trained to offer support and assistance to individuals in developing and maintaining a path to recovery, resiliency, and wellness. Services include self-disclosure by the Peer Supporter of lived experience in a manner that promotes hope and teaches individuals about paths to recovery and overcoming barriers.
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Join us in welcoming PMH’s newest Navigators!
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Stanley Rugumayo CPRS brings years of experience working in residential recovery services and advocacy within justice systems as a peer recovery specialist. He has been assigned to work specifically in community re-entry for incarcerated individuals with mental health and substance use disorder challenges at ACRJ as a Navigator. Only a few months into his work, we are hearing great accolades from ACRJ leaders on his abilities to relate and connect with clients and learn new processes and technologies.
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Teresa Boone CPRS has been an a beam of light and hope to the unhomed in Charlottesville in these challenging times. The experience she gained working at the Salvation Army and hours working in peer recovery services will be invaluable in her work as a Navigator working with Veronica Espinosa on the Albemarle Charlottesville Therapeutic Docket.
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PMH’s Director makes the news…
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Check out our director, Dr. Kate Acuff, speaking about PMH’s latest updates from our current Navigation programs on NBC29’s Community Conversations from this link here. Her invaluable leadership work in advocacy, networking, and grant writing have helped to usher in PMH’s substantial growth and successes for over a decade. Thank you for what you do!
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Your continued support is vital as we face the struggle ahead…
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This is a critical call to action: the community needs mental health navigation and crisis response services more than ever before. Your one-time gifts have allowed us to reach specific goals and have made a noticeable difference to our community. Recurring gifts provide sustainability over the months to come as we continue to grow and continue our mission of connecting, educating, and advocating to strengthen resilience and mental health in the greater Charlottesville area.
Please click this link here and show your support by making a recurring gift. Suggested amounts are below, but we are grateful for either your recurring gift or a single donation of any amount. Thank you for considering the opportunity to increase your impact and keep these vital programs in action.
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$10 recurring donation could provide lunch, coffee, or transportation to an appointment.
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$30 donation could provide emergency groceries,
harm reduction supplies, or fuel for rural crisis response.
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$100 donation could contribute to aid for legal fees, housing applications, or continued education and certifications.
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