Funding grants to help small businesses, minorities are helping Havelock’s behavioral health team expand their services to some of Craven’s most vulnerable citizens.
On June 14, the Coalition for the Rehabilitation of Black Businesses announced that Injury and Healing Behavioral Health and Health, a Havelock-based psychology and behavioral health practice, was one of 20 businesses awarded $ 25,000 in development funding for its 2021 program. .
The multi-year initiative was founded in September 2020 by American Express, the American Chamber of Commerce and four black businesses – the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Chamber of Commerce, American Black Pages, Inc., and Legacy Walker’s – supporting long-term success. of small businesses owned by black people to go through the COVID-19 disaster.
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Located at 118 Crocker Road opposite the main entrance to the Marine Corps Air Force Base Cherry Point, Injury and Healing Health and Behavior specializes in minority issues, military families, injuries, and relationship abuse.
In addition to health services, culture provides individual and group therapy as well as partners and family therapy. Psychological assessments are also given for autism and other disorders.
Owner Che Ward, a licensed psychologist, said that after she moved into the Havelock area with her husband a year and a half ago, she began offering direct counseling services at her home.
“When I started looking around, that led me to realize that there are very few therapists and only one psychologist here,” Ward said. “So I saw that this is the best place for people to come here and do mental health.”
Ward opened the Crocker Road job in July 2021 and now employs a second therapist as well as an assistant, intern and office staff.
“We’re growing slowly,” Ward said. “Every time more people in the community find out about us, we get more customers and more references.”
Ward said when she arrived in Havelock she was surprised that few behavioral health practices were available in the area.
“There is a lot going on with small town life as well as poverty,” she said. “There are many mental health issues that people ignore or do not know they can get help from. They also need to serve the military community. Service members usually get help but families need to know. to be here for them. “
‘We’re here’
Injury and Behavioral Healing and Behavioral Health received a $ 5,000 CBBB grant last year and was then selected for a growth grant, which is given to businesses that have shown growth. To see also : Boris Johnson Gives Politics a Botox Jab: The Reading with Allegra Stratton.
Ward said the start-up grant has allowed her business to purchase office and testing equipment, while the new funding will go towards staff training and assessment materials.
“The full autism assessment tool is around $ 5,000, so the money is definitely needed,” she said.
According to Ward, the CBBB grant allowed its practice to help cover the costs of customer services not covered by health insurance.
“With this fund we have been able to incur some weight loss costs and subsidized programs so that we do not charge patients for the full cost,” Ward said. “What we are working on now is trying to get recognition from all insurance companies, because the biggest need is Medicaid and TRICARE.”
The grant money will also be used to open a computer testing center, Ward said.
“We’re trying to provide the most services we can to the community, because I’ve heard a lot of people say ‘Oh, by the way everyone is leaving Havelock.’ But we are not, we are here, ”Ward commented.
The need for services provided by Hurt and Healing Health Behavioral Health and Wellness is particularly evident because of COVID-19, Ward said. The spread has forced the culture to adopt new technologies to deliver their services to customers.
“It has increased people’s fears not only of injuries but of all family and housing disputes,” Ward noted. “So that has forced us to improve our services to provide telehealth to all of them, which has grown in this community because it has not been accepted by most insurance companies.”
Ward said she expects to hire at least one full-time therapist within the next year. She said she hopes her work will encourage others to provide mental health services in Craven County.
“We need more, now. We need more therapists, more therapists, more therapists. We hope to find at least one minority therapist who may be male. They are rare in this profession now. she said.
For more information on Behavioral Health and Healing, visit https://www.hurtandhealingbhw.com/about-5 or call 252-652-6047.
Black business community faces ‘starker challenges’
As a black business owner, Ward said she faced a roadblock while seeking funding for her business. This may interest you : As grocery prices soar, NY boosts food aid for the needy.
“Normally when it comes to face-to-face I can say for sure there is a double-edged sword or interference or refusal even to be heard, so that we know what he intends to do,” she explained. “Applying online may be a bit easier, because there is no face-off.”
Lawrence Bowdish, executive director of the Chamber Foundation, said businesses owned by black people faced particular challenges during the COVID-19 disaster.
“There are a lot of challenges among black entrepreneurs. Businesses owned by black people are more likely to fall through cost changes because of inflation, or access to employment,” Bowdish said. “Many businesses owned by black people are concentrated in factories that rely heavily on foot traffic, which has declined.”
Bowdish noted that a survey conducted in January 2022, the Global Small Business Report, showed that 41% of businesses owned by Black people were closed in the first quarter of 2020.
“That is a stellar person, a great tragedy in that society,” he said. “It has been gradually brought back since, with new traders. And that means there is a new business group that really needs help, support and resources to get off the ground.”
Bowdish said nearly 50% of CBBB recipients saw an increase in their sales revenue 6 months after receiving their grants, compared to 33% of businesses owned by Black people as a whole.
“We see that what we are doing is really helping these businesses,” Bowdish said.
For more information on Coalition to Back Businesses Black provides eligibility and application process, visit https://webackblackbusinesses.com/
