New KC Black Mental Health Nonprofit to Help Through Vouchers, Support Programs

The Kansas City Black Mental Health Initiative (KCBMHI) just launched in January and has big plans, including giving 100 Black residents free mental health care vouchers this year. 

The group’s strategic plan outlines an ambitious set of programs and “bureaus” focused on education, reducing stigma, and connecting Black residents with culturally competent therapists and support resources.

KCBMHI aims to increase access to mental health services and destigmatize therapy in the Black community. Cecil Wattree, founder and executive director of KCBMHI, says that psychology and psychoanalysis were founded by White western Europeans and only had other White interests in mind. 

“When we start with that foundation, we have a kind of a ‘colonization of therapy,’” says Wattree. “We have to decolonize therapy and diversify the mental health field.”

Tamara (Tami) Vang, KCBMHI operations director, says that the mental health care system has systemic racism within it — like many other institutions — and that KCBMHI is working to change that. 

She says they are working to get more Black therapists licensed, working on education through a speaker series, and working with nontraditional providers like barbers to spread the word about the importance of Black mental health. 

“A lot of times, Black traditional paradigms (way of viewing things) are saturated in survival,” says Wattree. “Survival skills need to be converted to thriving skills and living skills.” 

Black Therapy Fund

One of the core programs from KCBMHI is a Black Therapy Fund that will provide mental health sessions to 100 people in its first year, with the goal of expanding to more people in subsequent years. KCHMI board member Johnny Waller says that the group has been raising money to fund vouchers that will allow Black residents to pick a therapist and then use the voucher to get free mental health services. 

Each voucher covers 10 therapy sessions or $750 worth of care and has no set expiration date. Since mental health treatment programs vary from patient to patient, the lack of a “use-by” date for the vouchers allows for flexibility. Waller says KCBMHI hopes to have applications open for these vouchers within the next 90 days. 

KCBMHI’s Holistic Approach

In addition to the voucher program, KCBMHI has established seven different bureaus:

• A Speakers Bureau will educate the public on mental health topics through collaboration with UMKC and other institutions. 
• A Support Bureau offers monthly support groups for Black men, women, LGBTQ members, and other intersectionalities. 
• A Case Consult Bureau allows therapists to collaborate on difficult cases. 
• A Supervision Bureau provides free mentorship to new Black practitioners.
• A Licensing Bureau assists with cultural competency in licensing exams for those seeking to become Black licensed therapy providers. 
• A Youth Bureau focuses on the social-emotional well-being of school-aged youth. 
• A Community Health Equity Bureau that focuses on health equity work by those working in and around mental wellness who aren’t necessarily practitioners.
  
  

“Around town, we have events around a lot of different things, but not many events about mental health,” says Waller. “Mental health is a touchy subject; that’s why we’ve developed these bureaus, for people within our communities to start to talk about it.”

Waller says that KCBMI can help start the conversation, bring down the cost of mental health care, and help add more Black mental health providers.

Wattree says their multi-pronged approach is to make the mental health space more accommodating for the Black community, both those seeking care and those who would like to provide care.  

“There’s a shortage of Black mental health practitioners so, hopefully, these efforts nurture and encourage the younger generation to become therapists,” says Waller. 

Noting the scarcity of Black therapists in the area, KCBMHI is working on a partnership with the nonprofit G.I.F.T. (Generating Income for Tomorrow) to provide resources like office space to help solo practitioners and small firms get established.

While still in its infancy, KCBMHI has partnered with the Kansas City Municipal Court to provide services to defendants with unmet mental health needs. The group hopes to expand collaborations with schools, community organizations, and healthcare providers.
Those interested in supporting KCBMHI’s mission can join as a “Friend of the Initiative” to help promote awareness through networks and media engagement. For more info, visit KCBMHI.org.