Community Services
Promotora Program ↘
The Promotora program aims to demystify mental health and make it a common place topic discussed openly and honestly in everyday conversations. This free 8-week course is hybrid (both online and in-person). The ideal candidate for this program is for Latine women looking to empower themselves and learn life-changing resources to bring back to their communities.
Lisset Betancourt, LMSW
Promotora 8-Week Course
Topics areas:
De-stigmatizing mental health and accessing support and services: understanding stigma around mental health; information on daily stressors, mind-body connection, self-care as prevention and healing
Mindfulness and Self-regulation: Understanding stress/trauma responses and accessing strategies for regulation and co-regulation; everyday awareness of self
Psychoeducational information on mental health: Information on anxiety, depression, grief; connection to resources to access mental health services
This program will:
Cultivate skills to facilitate community conversations
Provide culturally affirming mental and physical health information
Make support and mental health services accessible, and
Increase community engagement
Graduates of the program will be supported to offer their own community conversations if they choose.
Care Coordination ↘
Care Coordination at YWCA Greater Austin is a trauma-informed holistic program dedicated to assisting clients in eliminating barriers to accessing the services they need. Care Coordinators recognize and acknowledge systemic and institutional challenges in order to restore a client's sense of dignity. Through Care Coordination, we assess needs and goals and work collaboratively with the on-site therapist, external resources, support systems, and community organizations to provide effective comprehensive care.
Case Management and Refferals
A collaborative effort between a client and their care coordinator to identify needs, barriers, resources, and formulate working plan. During this process, the care coordinator can help locate and access services, provide referrals, information, direct assistance and support and/or advocacy for the client. This mutual effort focuses on helping clients through the continuum of services.
Life Skills
Life skills education can vary based on client needs and goals and may be very particular or generalized (ex. 6 week life skills course teaching budgeting, effective communication, etc.). and tailored to the client's needs.
Advocacy
Care coordinators can assist clients by advocating directly for them to obtain resources and services and/or to help them communicate within certain systems such as attorneys, schools, etc.. Care coordinators can also serve as extra support and accompany clients to appointments to either serve as an advocate or as a support system as the client navigates systems such as court settings, schools, etc. Care coordinators may also advocate at a macro-level if necessary as they identify systemic barriers.
Warmline ↘
In an effort to alleviate the stressors and isolation created by COVID-19, YWCA Greater Austin is providing a Warmline to assist people who may want to speak with someone to feel connected. The Warmline is staffed by volunteer mental health professionals and peers with shared experiences that have been trained in providing emotional support and assistance.
The Warmline is for people with emerging non-emergency thoughts and feelings that have arisen or have been exacerbated by the current health crisis and who may benefit from receiving emotional support and a space for connection. YWCA understands that connection to others and emotional support are basic human needs and help to cope in difficult situations. The Warmline is designed to prevent a mental health crisis.
If you have felt out of sorts, confused, preoccupied, extra stressed, scared, lonely, anxious, isolated, or just feel like talking with someone about the challenges you are facing, please call our Warmline. Our caring trained team offers non-judgmental and confidential support. No need to go through this alone, we are here for you!
We welcome individuals with lived and/or professional experience interested in volunteering with the Warmline to send a resume and brief cover letter to Practice Director Haleigh Campbell at haleigh@ywcaaustin.org.