Chas Foundation

Programs: Community outreach/partnerships in order to increase access to mental healthcare and services, the chas foundation has collaborated and partnered with numerous hospitals and organizations. In 2017, the chas foundation made a large donation to the children's hospital of the king's daughters (chdk) to fund the reach program and training for their behavioral/mental health staff. The funding helped train 70 local chkd pediatricians to recognize and treat mental health issues in their patients. The foundation has also continued to work closely with and alongside the norfolk community services board, the eastern virginia medical school (evms), and the national alliance for the mentally ill (nami). Clothing and toiletries are also provided to the norfolk crisis stabilization center.

public awareness again in 2017, the chas foundation launched a mental health awareness campaign in the month of may because it is mental health awareness month. Unlike many physical conditions and/or diseases, individuals often hide their systems or mask emotional problems early on. Treatment by early mental illness diagnosis can many times increase the chances of recovery. Our anti-stigma message was blanketed across billboards throughout norfolk, portsmouth and chesapeake to reach out to those who may be struggling. Signage was also placed inside of hampton roads transit (hrt) trolley's in the summer and fall of 2017 that addressed the stigma of mental illness as well as on the outside of hrt buses on the southside of hampton roads. No one should feel ashamed by their mental illness and should not feel ashamed asking for help.

family resource -the chas foundation implemented the individualized family support (ifs) program that provides support for families in crisis and a continuum of care through referrals (treatment providers, housing, police, court, jails). The mental health system can be a maze for individuals and families that do not know where to start or how to navigate the system and feel they have run out of options in finding effective treatment. Additional support is given by meeting with individuals at their choice of location, providing transportation for those in need, medication cost assistance, and making doctors appointments.

advocacy - the chas foundation has continued their important work by educating legislators in the commonwealth of virginia through quarterly meetings in richmond as well as sub-committee hearings that have taken place throughout the state. As a participate in senator creigh deeds subcommittee on mental health services in the 21st century, representatives have advocated for better access to mental health through examining the many challenges within the current system. Meetings to discuss improving the mental healthcare system, in particular families finding themselves in a crisis situation,have also been held with the following representatives: senator emmett hanger, delegate peter farrell, delegate chris jones, and delegate scott garrett. In addition, through our partnership with the treatment advocacy center, we continue to push for more effective laws and an emergency protocol that will better assist those experiencing a mental health crisis. Expenses - 9,714 education/training - the chas foundation has been instrumental in the development of the crisis intervention team in norfolk, va. Crisis intervention teams (cit) are programs that bring together local stakeholders, including law enforcement,emergency dispatchers, mental health providers, consumers of mental health services, and family advocates in order to improve multi-systems' response to persons experiencing behavioral health crisis who come into contact with law enforcement or other first responders. The executive director has been designated as an instructor for the norfolk police department's crisis intervention team and has trained over 400 officers. In addition, the executive director attends mental health fairs as well as conferences addressing issues surrounding mental health such as homelessness, substance abuse, and crisis intervention. In 2017, the chas foundation developed a community mental health training that will educate the public about mental illness and steps to take if an individual or family member is struggling with a mental illness. Expenses 7,220