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Grassroots Experts Share What They Know
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As experts in crisis services and intervention, Grassroots representatives are frequently invited to speak at conferences and other opportunities to share their expertise. Most recently Executive Director Dr. Mariana Izraelson has been a featured participant at several events.
Dr. Izraelson was one of the speakers at the inaugural Light the Night 5K for Suicide Prevention on April 8, at Oakland Mills High School. The event was spearheaded by River Hill High School student Chloe McGeehan , who is a runner, and raised money for both Grassroots and the Maryland Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
On April 22, Dr. Izraelson was a MD BIT Affinity Conference panelist. BIT (Behavioral Intervention Team) is a multi-disciplinary group whose purpose is to support students on college campuses. Her topic was “BIT and the Pandemic: A Year in Transition.”
The next day, Dr. Izraelson was one of 17 speakers at TEDxRiverHillHS which featured responses to the pandemic, “Adapting to the Changing World.” She focused on the innovation and flexibility Grassroots exhibited as phones were incessantly ringing, and staff and clients were getting sick. You can hear the full talk here.
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Resources for Youth County Executive Calvin Ball has announced the expansion of Howard County’s School-Based Mental Health Program to all 77 public schools, as well as plans to subsidize mental health resources in the community for vulnerable youth. The SBMHP’s funding of $1.7 million for the next two years includes $980,000 of American Rescue Plan monies plus contributions from The Horizon Foundation of Howard County and The Kahlert Foundation. See more here.
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Volunteer Help Last month 90 volunteers provided 571 hours of service to support the efforts at the Grassroots Day Resource Center in Jessup which provides basic help with laundry, meals, clothing and other services. New volunteers are welcome there. Openings include volunteers to drive the van to resume transportation services.
Donations We are grateful for the ongoing support of faith communities, such as the Catholic Community of Ascension & St. Augustine which recently delivered 20 boxes of food for people living in emergency motel quarters, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church which delivered Easter baskets to the children in the shelter, Beth Chaverim Religious School which donated toiletries and 48 Hygiene kits and Bethany United Methodist Church which brought in food and toiletry items. Thank you to everyone.
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Campaign The Howard County Health Department will be unveiling its new and expanded “It’s OK to Ask” suicide prevention campaign on May 19 at a press event. The intent of the initiative is to create awareness and reduce stigma about mental health and suicide for people across the life and cultural spans. County Executive Calvin Ball, Health Officer Dr. Maura Rossman, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Board member Karsten Sherer and Grassroots Executive Director Dr. Mariana Izraelson will speak.
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Are You a Friend of Grassroots?
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Are you a donor to Grassroots? Have you made a gift this year? Grassroots depends upon the generosity of individuals, organizations and businesses in the community to support its free services to people in crisis, to help provide the 24-7 hotline and suicide prevention efforts, round-the-clock personal counseling, Mobile Crisis Team, the shelter programs and other activities to help people achieve a positive resolution to their crisis situation. Please make a gift to Grassroots today. Any size gift is welcome. If you can afford $50 or more per month, consider joining The Friends of Grassroots who donate $600 or more per year. Thank you for your support.
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