Community Cares Listening Line Offers Free Emotional Support and Resource Information to First Responders and Essential Workers
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Community Cares Listening Line Offers Free Emotional Support
and Resource Information to
First Responders and Essential Workers
Institute of the Black World and Black Family Summit Established
Helpline for African Americans and People of African Descent
Calls Answered Daily 8:00 am - 11:00 pm
(877) 719-1117
New York, NY, December 16, 2020 – Millions
of people have been touched by the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged
the world throughout the year; however, no one has been more overwhelmed
than first responders and essential workers who continue working to
protect and care for the rest of us. But, who takes care of them while
they are helping others? The Institute of the Black World 21st Century
(IBW), through its Black Family Summit (BFS) initiative, is reaching out
to a major part of this vital workforce with the Community Cares Listening Line at (877) 719-1117.
Funded
by a grant from Casey Family Programs, the initiative provides free
emotional support and resource information to first responders and
essential workers who are African American and people of African
descent. The helpline is available seven days a week from 8:00 am –
11:00 pm.
“The Community
Cares Listening Line is grounded in a framework that recognizes the
healing value of community, the importance of listening with empathy and
the importance of instilling hope,” said Project Coordinator, Dr. Lisa
Zakiya Newland, a social work educator and practitioner. “Volunteer
listeners are trained in this framework. They will also provide
information on resources to support the needs of the callers.”
The
initiative has been in place since the summer, but is now being
supported by advertising and marketing efforts to increase callers,
especially during the holiday season when people are more likely to be
overwhelmed, lonely and devastated by the tremendous loss that is
encountered on a daily basis.
“Our
tagline is ‘We’re here. We’re listening.” and we encourage everyone to
share the helpline number – (877) 719-1117 – with colleagues, family and
friends to let first responders and essential workers know that we are
here for them,” added Dr. Newland.
Leonard
Dunston, convener of BFS, President Emeritus of the National
Association of Black Social Workers and IBW Board Member, said, “The
Black community faces a multitude of disparities, and COVID-19 is no
exception. It is known that first responders and essential workers are
suffering, and news reports continue to recount the devastating,
multi-faceted impact of this pandemic on their well-being. We are
pleased that we are able to offer free, much-needed emotional support
and information to these important members of our society.”
Dr.
Ron Daniels, IBW Founder and President, established the organization to
be a progressive, African-centered, action-oriented Resource Center
dedicated to empowering people of African descent and marginalized
communities. The Black Family Summit is comprised of 29
socially-conscious Black professional and advocacy groups, including
organizations that focus on the holistic health and welfare of Black
families and communities. Members of these “healing” organizations have
applied their collective expertise to emergency response efforts within
communities of color.
The Community
Cares Listening Line is endorsed by the New York City, Westchester and
Nassau-Suffolk chapters of the National Association of Black Social
Workers; the New York City and New Jersey chapters of the Association of
Black Psychologists; Caribbean American Social Workers Association;
Nigerian Social Workers Association; New York City chapter of 100 Black
Men; and several organizations affiliated with IBW’s Pan-African Unity
Dialogue.
For more information on Institute of the Black World 21st Century, Black Family Summit and the Community Cares Listening Line, please go to ibw21.org.
# # #
Media Contact:
Carolyn McClair | (212) 721-3341 CarolynMcClairPR@gmail.com
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