CCS Education and Wellness Center is a new nonprofit, but they’ve provided vital mental and behavioral health services for families throughout the Inland Empire for 15 years.
“Since we started, we’ve always identified a need in the community and tried to fill it,” said Chief Operating & Finance Officer Sherry Shockey-Pope. “That’s why we established the nonprofit in 2022.”
With the increasing demand for mental and behavioral health services in the region, especially for vulnerable populations such as the uninsured and underinsured, coupled with a therapist shortage – the organization identified a need and filled it. The nonprofit works with local universities to leverage student therapists, often in their final semester of a graduate program, to provide services while enhancing their skills and gaining client care hours through the supervision of licensed therapists. Through this unique program and collaboration with other nonprofits, the organization can increase the number of clients it serves and expand its reach.
CCS Education & Wellness Community Relations Director Anita Munoz and Chief Operating & Finance Officer Sherry Shockey-Pope completed the Collaborative Capacity Building Grant Summer 2024 Cohort to enhance their business operation skills and strengthen their organization’s infrastructure to better serve their community. We sat down with Sherry to learn more about the incredible work CCS Education & Wellness Center is doing across the region and some of the trends and challenges they see as behavioral health experts.
Q: Why is it important to invest in mental health services?
A: At CCS Education and Wellness, we believe investing in mental health services is essential for fostering a thriving, resilient, compassionate local community. Mental health services are a cornerstone of overall community well-being, directly impacting academic performance for our youth and students, economic prosperity, social harmony, early intervention and prevention, reducing stigma and promoting holistic health and equity.
Q: Are there any trends you’ve been seeing in your work?
A: Yes! The aftereffects of COVID-19 have left many individuals and families grappling with stress and financial concerns, highlighting the urgent need for mental health support.
Q: How is CCS Education and Wellness Center helping families navigate the complexity of the youth behavioral crisis with the rise of loneliness and the use of social media?
A: We tackle youth behavioral crises by offering tailored counseling and therapy services to address anxiety, depression and social isolation. We take a collaborative approach that includes parental guidance by educating parents to support their children effectively. We also work with schools by providing outreach and parenting programs. Plus, we help clients navigate healthy social media habits and responsible use.
Q: As a new nonprofit, you recently completed the Collaborative Capacity Building Program. Can you share your organization’s experience and what you’ve learned?
A: Since we established the nonprofit, we’ve been focused on serving the community’s needs but knew to be efficient and successful, we needed to invest in building the organization’s infrastructure.
As always, we identified a need – help with infrastructure, building a CRM system, and board member development- and found a way to fill this need – the Collaborative Capacity Building Grant from IEHP Foundation. When we saw the call for applications, we all knew it would be a great benefit for our organization, and we couldn’t believe we got it since there are so many deserving nonprofits in the region.
Since we completed the program and received the grant, we’ve hired a bookkeeper and invested in a CRM tool. We are working to grow our board and find individuals with experience in grant writing to help with applying for and receiving more grants.
Q: How does building your organization’s infrastructure better serve your community?
A: It ensures that our business is sustainable and continues to provide these vital mental health services. Last year, we served over 1400 people, and we want to expand our business operations to reach even more families. The individuals in our care do better for their families, neighbors, and communities.
Q: What inspires you to do this work?
A: My inspiration comes from witnessing the resiliency and growth of the individuals and families that we serve. I am humbled by the trust our clients place in us and motivated by the positive changes we see in their lives. It is truly an honor working with our clients.
CCS Education and Wellness Center is one of our many Champions for Vibrant Health, actively working to improve their communities’ health and well-being every day. To learn more about CCS Education and Wellness Center, visit their website.
You can become a Champion for Vibrant Health by interacting with the Foundation at various touchpoints, including but not limited to attending an IEHP Foundation event, subscribing to our newsletter, accessing our meeting spaces or applying for grants. Help us make the Inland Empire a vibrant and healthy place to live, work and thrive!