FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Claire Ruremesha, Director of Operations
Organization: Luminosity Behavioral Health Services
Phone: 781-344-0102
Email: cruremesha@lbhsinc.org
SEMPA RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS FOUNDATION TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO HEALTHCARE
BROCKTON, MA (December 16, 2024) – The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation (BCBSMA) recently announced $50,000.00 grant funding to support the Luminosity Behavioral Health Services (LBHS) collaboration with Unlimited Behavioral Health Services, Inclusion Family Counseling Center, and Choices4Teens Mentoring Group. LBHS is the co-convener and fiscal agent for this community-based partnership known as SEMPA (South East Multicultural Providers Association).
The purpose of SEMPA is to take collective action to reduce inequities and improve access to behavioral health care in Southeastern, Massachusetts, with a specific focus on communities of color in Brockton. This BCBSMA grant is part of the foundation’s Special Initiatives “to improve health care access.”
“Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation’s grant support is recognition of the critical unmet behavioral health care needs facing low-income families,” stated Phoebe Soares, Luminosity, CEO. “Communities of color lack access to culturally sensitive and responsive therapeutic interventions, by trained professionals,” she said, “This funding for community-based agencies will help to remedy this dilemma.”
SEMPA partners will serve diverse populations of children, youth, adults and families who need support. “SEMPA members will implement cross-agency agreements to ensure the availability of services,” said Lou Labissiere, Executive Director, Unlimited Behavioral Health Services.
Adriano Cabral, Executive Director, Inclusion Family Center, explains, “Many of our clients have experienced traumatic life events. This collaboration will increase the pool of multicultural health professionals and help reduce long waitlists.” SEMPA will train and certify 60 staff members to provide trauma-specific interventions.
Trayce Hillman, Executive Director, Choices4Teens Mentoring Group, says, “This is an opportunity to continue youth advocacy and create a standardized referral process for youth needing access to services.” Choices4Teens is a school-based program and will open doors for SEMPA to partner with school counselors and administrators.
SEMPA is one of five community-based projects in Massachusetts to receive Special Initiatives funding support from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation.
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