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The new Be Strong On The Block program coordinates counseling and other resources for under-served children, youth and families in under-served areas of Miami-Dade County.
Be Strong International, an award-winning non-profit serving South Florida families for more than 30 years, has launched Be Strong On The Block, a new program to help under-served clients in parts of south Miami-Dade County find help for significant depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders.
The program directly helps families in the Goulds and Richmond Heights neighborhoods hit by poverty, crime, unemployment, community violence and trauma. It uses community connectors to find and enroll clients through door-to-door canvassing, outreach to local hotspots and referrals from neighborhood organizations. The community connectors serve as resource guides for client families, making them aware of available services and helping them to receive help.
“The ability to help everyone in the entire family is just an incredible gift,” said Michelle Shirley, CEO of Be Strong International. “We aim to bridge the gap between the amazing resources offered by community organizations and businesses and the children and families who need them the most.”
Following an initial screening, Be Strong On The Block staff address current barriers to mental well-being by connecting families to mental health providers and agencies that can assist with housing, utilities payment, tutoring, parenting classes, food and nutrition, legal services, jobs, GED assistance, bereavement support and after-school programs, among other resources.
The program is led by Dr. Delvena Thomas, who trained in medicine and psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore, Maryland. It is mainly funded by The Children’s Trust as part of its Family and Neighborhood Support Partnerships, with additional support from The Miami Foundation and Peacock Foundation.
Be Strong International has been instrumental in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including coping with acts of violence. It partners with Miami-Dade County in implementing Project Peace, specifically serving Goulds residents with innovative youth and neighborhood virtual workshops, local leadership training, monthly free food drives and other connections to this high-risk, high-need community. It is dedicated to assessing their needs and creating a plan to meet them.
For more information about Be Strong On The Block, or if you are a resident of Goulds or Richmond Heights, please visit https://bestrongintl.org/be-strong-on-the-block/
To donate, please visit https://bestrongintl.org/donate/
For more information and updates, follow Be Strong International on social media @bestrongintl or through the website https://bestrongintl.org
About Be Strong International
Be Strong International is an award-winning nonprofit organization that provides holistic educational services and resources to families in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, bringing them from brokenness to wholeness by helping them develop healthy relationships and heart skills. Founded in 1992 by Mrs. Althea McMillan, a retired Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher, it is now led by Michelle Shirley, CEO and Chief Heart Officer. Be Strong International’s Heart Skillstm programs teach families how to make better decisions about relationships, money, work and family life. In addition, Be Strong International partners with other institutions to offer events that will directly help the communities it serves, such as food drives and back-to-school supply drives. Known for its transformational workplace culture, Be Strong International has been selected as one of the Best Places to Work by the South Florida Business Journal.
