COMMUNITY WELLNESS INITIATIVE
CEA's Community Wellness Initiative is a holistic therapeutic program to support the wellness of children, adults and families in comfortable and natural community settings. The goal of this culturally specific initiative is to foster an environment of empowerment for youth and their families to determine and advocate for their needs, improve their health and pursue their aspirations. In an effort to provide more comprehensive services CEA's Community Wellness Initiative is designed first and foremost as a community-based collaborative system that includes health care providers, community and faith based organizations, schools, and other community leadership. It also incorporates a family-centered partnership -- trusting, collaborative, working partnership with families, respecting their diversity and recognizing their special needs in a culturally and appropriate manner.
The objectives of this initiative are to:
- Assess the physical and mental wellness in community members
- Reduce psychological distress
- Increase the knowledge of socially acceptable norms
- Provide an immediate level of intervention in the broader community
- Build trust
- Address family needs
- Facilitate recovery and interdependence
CEA's ability to address these chronic complex issues are greatly enhanced by its organizational mission, sensitivity to the needs of lower-income households, and understanding of the ways that culture influences an individual's connections to his/her community, i.e., common heritage, common experiences, common culture, and shared emotional bonds.
The overall commitment of this invaluable initiative is to strengthen the social functioning and resiliency of youth and family members who are currently underserved and/or hesitant to use traditional social service treatment services.