Episode 9

full
Published on:

27th Aug 2020

Honest Conversations About Racism and Mental Health, Featuring a Provider, a Mother and a Young Adult

Today, I am joined by three amazing individuals, Tiffany Lawrence, LMFT, Damas Cher-Frere, and Erica M. Ricketts, MBA. 

Tiffany is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida who has been working in the behavioral health field for 7 years. She works at Broward Behavioral Health Coalition as the Project Director for Broward County’s One Community Partnership 3 System of Care SAMHSA grant. Her expertise is in assisting communities to develop programs that promote success for transition-age youth with behavioral health needs.  

Damas is a self-taught artist who was born in Haiti and has lived in South Florida for over 20 years. He graduated from Boyd H Anderson High School. Damas is a motivated young man who does not let his mental illness stop him from being productive. Through his work as an artist and illustrator, he shows others that strength lies in pushing forward and doing what you love, despite what obstacles may stand in your way.  

Erica Ricketts, a native of Jamaica and has resided in South Florida for almost 3 decades. She is the mother of 2 adult sons, Kadeem – 28, and Kahlil, 24. Ms. Ricketts joined Henderson Behavioral Health in 1993 and has been the Chief Financial Officer since 1995. As CFO, Ms. Ricketts’s duties include the day-to-day supervision of all accounting functions. She oversees Henderson’s investment portfolio, manages the organization’s budget, and is involved in contract negotiations with federal, state, county, and other funding sources. Ms. Ricketts currently serves as the Chair of the Florida Council for Behavioral Health CFO Workgroup and was one of the recipients of the Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida’s Epic Award in 2018. She is a Nationally Certified Adult & Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer. Additionally, Mrs. Ricketts serves on the Board of Directors for the Lighthouse of Broward and is a Charter Member of the Women of Color Empowerment Institute, at which she also serves as a Mentor for Professional Women in Broward County.

In this episode, we get the opportunity to hear both professional and personal perspectives on the topic of the impact of racial injustice on the provision of behavioral health services in Broward County, Florida. Guests on this episode include a mother of two adult sons, a young man who has experience with the mental health system, and a mental health services provider. 

This podcast episode is sponsored by Broward Behavioral Health Coalition:

In 2011, the State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families designated the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Inc. (BBHC) as Broward’s local Managing Entity. BBHC is responsible for the contracting, monitoring, clinical quality oversight and performance improvement of the DCF/State funded behavioral health services. BBHC provides a comprehensive system of care for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders for individuals in Broward County. As a non-profit organization, BBHC also manages local and national grants to develop evidence-based practices and practice improvement for providers and persons served. One Community Partnership is a SAMHSA system of care grant contracted through the Broward County government to BBHC. This podcast is brought to you through these grant dollars.

What You'll Learn

  • The impact of racial injustice on the provision of behavioral health services in Broward County, Florida.
  • The effects of racism and racial injustice on the mental health of black people. 
  • A profound understanding of racism and racial injustice based on the personal experience of the guests. 
  • And much more!

Favorite Quote

"I think the system needs to first work with engagement. You're not going to be able to engage people who don't trust you in the same way you could engage someone who trusts you." - Tiffany Lawrence  

Organizational Resources

Suggested topics to explore further, as discussed in the podcast (links added by the Optimistic Advocate)

 

Examples of artwork by Damas Cher-frere

For More Information: 

For more information on the work of the Broward Behavioral Health Care Coalition, the One Community Partnership, and other resources discussed in this episode of The Optimistic Advocate podcast, please contact:

Tiffany Lawrence, LMFT, Project Director

One Community Partnership 3

Broward Behavioral Health Coalition

tlawrence@bbhcflorida.org

http://www.bbhcflorida.org

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About the Podcast

The Optimistic Advocate
Making a difference in advocating for better mental health services for children and families
Hello, and welcome to the Optimistic Advocate! The Podcast that brings you just a bit closer to recognizing your full potential as an advocate for change – yours, mine, and everyone's! I’m your host, Scott, Bryant-Comstock, and I’m CEO and founder of the Children’s Mental Health Network. For the past 40 years, my journey as a mental health advocate has traveled from volunteering at a suicide and crisis center, professional roles as a therapist in an outpatient clinic, in-home family therapist, state mental health official, Board Chair for a county mental health program, and national reviewer of children’s mental health systems reform efforts. As the founder of the Children’s Mental Health Network (2009), I lead the Network’s efforts to grow a national online forum for the exchange of ideas on how to continually improve children’s mental health research, policy, and practice.

This podcast features conversations with inspiring advocates who help individuals and families make positive changes in their lives and communities across the globe. The episodes typically run from 45 – 60 minutes in length, so give yourself some room to breathe and get inspired when you listen to these. Who knows this could be the gamechanger that will unleash the advocate in you. You won’t regret it!

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Go to theoptimisticadvocate.com/listen and choose the podcast player of your choice. Remember, as you dive into the episodes, never forget to stay optimistic, listen attentively, have a plan, and follow through.

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About your host

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Scott Bryant-Comstock

For the past 40 years, my journey as a mental health advocate has spanned working at a suicide and crisis center, as a therapist in an outpatient clinic, an in-home family therapist, a state mental health official, Board Chair for a county mental health program, and a national reviewer of children's mental health systems reform efforts. As the founder of the Children's Mental Health Network (2009), I lead the Network's efforts to grow a national online forum for the exchange of ideas on how to continually improve children's mental health research, policy, and practice. Through it all, I remain optimistic that the voice of advocates can, and will, be heard. We need strong advocates now, more than ever!

If you're like most of my listeners, you're committed to making significant contributions to your work and seeing sustainable change. But it's not easy–you know it, and I know it. Let's face it - it's downright hard! My passion is helping to shape policy and practice in children's mental health, and my mission is to introduce you to innovative efforts taking place across the nation that are making a difference in the lives of children and families.