Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)

📢 NEW: COFI and POWER-PAC IL are pleased to share our report: “Shining a Light: How Parent-Led Solutions Can Heal Our Communities and Address Trauma" It features FIVE parent-led recommendations about improving our mental health system and shows what's working and not working for Illinois families. Get your copy now: https://lnkd.in/gd6uV5gu

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Teresa Ramos on her nomination as the Inaugural Secretary of the newly formed Illinois Department of Early Childhood! This week, Governor JB Pritzker nominated Dr. Ramos, who has many years of experience in child care, education, and early childhood development! We look forward to working with her to ensure parents and guardians have the resources and support they need to help their babies and youngest learners thrive in Illinois! https://lnkd.in/gTbvcFH6

Did you know COFI-trained parents released a new report highlighting parent-led recommendations to improve our mental health system? Parents came up with five policy recommendations for healing Black and Brown communities, including: 🔹Peer-to-peer services can help fill service gaps that Black and Brown communities are experiencing 🔹Medicaid reforms that can make mental health services more affordable for those who need it most 🔹How everyone can develop a healing-centered framework and recognize the signs of trauma #PowerfulMomsAtCOFI are meeting with policymakers and providing them with crucial insight into parent-led policies that benefit all families. Join us in amplifying parent voices this #GivingTuesday:  https://lnkd.in/gY6ZwA5f

🚨 It’s not too late to join us in supporting parent power this #GivingTuesday! #ICYMI we highlighted three #PowerfulMomsAtCOFI who are taking action to improve the mental health system in their communities! Lisa, Teresa, and Valerie are “Community Healers” who are demonstrating to policymakers why we need to invest in peer-to-peer support groups and reform our Medicaid system. Become a champion for #PowerfulMomsAtCOFI! https://lnkd.in/gY6ZwA5f

Meet one more POWERFUL mom (and grandma!) at COFI! Valerie is from the Southside and leads a Community Healer group at a Chicago public school. They meet once a week with the group, but they also do phone calls, text messages, and one-on-ones with group members to build trust and strong peer-to-peer relationships. “Mental health challenges are on the rise, but I want policymakers to know we need them to stand behind us. We need them to give us the resources and support our communities need to thrive,” she said. One reason peer-to-peer support groups are so effective is that Valerie and others who lead them come from communities with similar lived experiences and are trusted and respected by their peers. “I shared with them that I lost my mom and it was hard for me,” she said. “As a mom, you’re so busy running around and taking care of everybody else, you don’t get a chance to grieve, and that takes a lot out of you. You take it day-by-day because it’s a process.” Peer-to-peer support is often a first step for those seeking mental health support. So many people lack insurance for mental health services, or they’re on waitlists for months. Programs like these can grow, and that’s why #PowerfulMomsAtCOFI, like Valerie, are meeting with policymakers and providing them with crucial insight about parent-led policies that work for the community. Champion parent-led change this #GivingTuesday! https://lnkd.in/gY6ZwA5f

#PowerfulMomsAtCOFI are making a difference in their communities! This #GivingTuesday, we’re asking YOU to support ongoing leadership training for parents who are taking action on issues that matter most to families, like mental health! P.S. A small, monthly donation has a BIG impact on providing ongoing leadership training. Champion POWERFUL moms at COFI this #GivingTuesday: https://lnkd.in/gY6ZwA5f

COFI’s POWERFUL moms are statewide and prioritizing mental health in their communities! Meet Teresa from Aurora! She was drawn to COFI’s mission of fighting for families and against injustices because, “I like to learn the system, how things work, and why things are the way they are.” Like Lisa, Teresa is part of COFI’s “Community Healer” project, demonstrating the power of peer-to-peer support. Teresa and parent leader Zor lead a healing circle every other Friday in Aurora. They create a safe space for individuals to share their feelings. “What impacts me is when we ask, ‘How are you leaving today’ at the end of the group. And when they say ‘happier’ or ‘lighter than what I carried in here today,’ that impacts our community,” she said. While peer-to-peer services address immediate needs, they don’t resolve long-standing systemic challenges that prevent this work from being recognized and integrated into the workforce. Teresa and other #PowerfulMomsAtCOFI are pushing for parent-led policy solutions to improve our mental health system for all families. Your gift today directly supports leadership training so COFI can reach more parents like Teresa who want to learn how systems work and want to change policies. Join us in amplifying parent voices this #GivingTuesday! https://lnkd.in/gY6ZwA5f

It’s time! On this #GivingTuesday, we’re excited to share stories about #PowerfulMomsAtCOFI taking action to change and improve the mental health system. Meet Lisa Russell from the Westside of Chicago! Lisa is part of COFI’s “Community Healer” project that demonstrates to policymakers that peer-to-peer services are critical to improving our mental healthcare system. She started taking peer-to-peer support training through COFI’s partnership with RUSH and realized how relationship building could have helped her address her trauma of losing her husband. “We had the opportunity to dive deeper, to get to know each other, and to understand that we all shared many connections,” she said. This sense of connection is why peer-to-peer, or parent-to-parent, support groups are successfully filling gaps in Black and Brown communities and making a significant impact. However, one of the major challenges Lisa and other parents have learned is that it’s challenging to bill Medicaid for peer support services. Lisa and COFI-trained parents are fighting to eliminate administrative barriers and simplify the process of billing Medicaid for these vital services. She wants to see peer support services expanded in her community to ensure families can start to address their mental health concerns. Champion parent leaders like Lisa who are leading parent-led policy change today! https://lnkd.in/gY6ZwA5f

Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday! We’re excited to celebrate #PowerfulMomsAtCOFI who are building parent power AND healing their communities! Follow us on social media to learn their stories! Or donate now and become a champion for POWERFUL parents today! https://lnkd.in/gY6ZwA5f

Coffee with COFI is out! Read the latest updates in powerful parent-led change! https://conta.cc/4iaRDOy