Caregiver Action Network Announces Resource for BIPOC Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Issues
August 13 2024 - 12:00PM
Families of loved ones with mental illness are about to get more
help thanks to
Caregiver Action Network (CAN). Today,
Caregiver Action Network is launching a new resource, Blueprint —
For BIPOC Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Issues, to help
families address some of the unique challenges they face when
caring for a mentally ill family member.
“Mental illness can affect anyone, but our mental health system
was not made with marginalized communities in mind” said Marvell
Adams Jr., Chief Executive Officer of CAN. “Racism, stigma, and a
lack of culturally relevant services can lead to difficulty and
delay in getting the services and help caregivers need to help
their child.”
Blueprint — For BIPOC Caregivers of Children with Mental
Health Issues provides information specifically tailored
to family caregivers of those affected by mental health issues
through four resources:
- Preconceptions in
Mental Health
- The Impact of
Those Preconceptions
- Advocating for
Your Child and Finding the Resources You Need
- Glossary/Key
Terms for BIPOC Caregivers
Blueprint — For BIPOC Caregivers of Children with Mental
Health Issues helps family caregivers with
information to address challenges they may have such as “I wish I
had known there were webinars and resources out there to help me,”
“I wish I had known there were organizations for Blacks, where I
could feel more understood and freer to share what I was going
through,” or “Why is it taking so long to get a diagnosis?”
“At CAN, we have to make sure that our resources are for not
only every caregiver, but all caregivers,” Adams said. “We hope
that this Blueprint raises the voices of the caregivers who have
been there to advocate for their child but have maybe not felt seen
or heard in the same way that a caregiver from a non-marginalized
community is.”
About CANCaregiver Action Network
(www.CaregiverAction.org) is the nation’s leading family
caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for
more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic
conditions, disabilities, disease, or meeting the living needs of
older adults. CAN serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers
ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the
families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple
dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for
parents with Alzheimer’s disease. CAN reaches caregivers on
multiple platforms. CAN (the National Family Caregivers
Association) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing
education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across
the country free of charge.
Jodi Koehn-Pike
Caregiver Action Network
2024543970
JKoehnPike@caregiveraction.org