We Are Hear for You
It never crossed my mind once that I would find myself writing to you in the midst of a world pandemic, yet here I am, doing exactly that. Although it may feel like we are living in uncertain times, I feel hopeful that we all find strength, compassion and courage to help us navigate these unchartered waters- together while in quarantine.
Your local YWCA has been at the forefront of every civil rights issue of the last century and right now isn’t any different than all those other times we rolled up our sleeves and joined our community by serving where we are needed most. I feel that right now it is important to reach out to you and let you know we are here for you.
But first-
How are you? How can we support you? We want you to know our thoughts are with you.
I also want to let you know of some of changes we are making at the YWCA in the middle of this crisis. Currently we are shifting most of our operations- like many of our community partners- almost overnight to meet the mental health and care coordination needs of our resilient community. We are continuing to do the work with the added disparities COVID -19 is illuminating for us all, which lay on top of the already existing mental health disparities and social injustices we have always addressed in our organization. COVID-19 has brought on an extra layer of fear, anxiety, stress and has resurfaced feelings of unfinished experienced for many in our community.
These are some of the reasons for which I’m writing to you today- to tell you we are listening and we are responding in real time- along side you. If you are feeling out of sorts, confused, isolated or need information about community resources to address the challenges you are facing, please read on and reach out to us at 512-326-1222
Tele-mental Health
- Individual, couple, and family therapy
- Online groups
- Connecting Conversations
- Parenting programs
- Coping, Centering, and Self-care single sessions
- Support for first responders and other essential employees
Virtual Care-Coordination
- Case management
- Referrals
- Direct Assistance
- Life-skills education
- Advocacy related COVID 19 information
Virtual Trainings and Webinars
- CEU trainings
- Self-development and Trauma informed care webinars
- Monthly Dialogues on issues of Racism and Discrimination
- Professional Spanish consultation for service providers
Emotional Support Warm-line (coming soon)
The Warm line is for those of us who need to express 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 and grounding. The Warm line is designed to prevent a mental health crisis.
If you are wondering how to support our COVID 19 response efforts, please join us in our fundraising goals to support our COVID 19 emotional support warm line by donating here
OR
Are you looking for ways to Volunteer? Do you have lived experience in emotional trauma and would like to volunteer in our Peer Support Specialist warm line?
Contact Haleigh at haleigh@ywcaaustin.org for more information
We are already planning ahead so we can adapt our services and be ready to respond to the needs of our community as we emerge and rebuild after the pandemic subsides. For all of us, this is a time of tremendous uncertainty and will require us to stand united and serve our most vulnerable communities.
In Solidarity,
