BROOMFIELD — In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Broomfield Community Foundation is expanding a behavioral health and resilience initiative to support nonprofit professionals serving the community.
Through its Broomfield Community Service Network, BCF is responding to growing concerns surrounding burnout, chronic stress, and secondary trauma among nonprofit staff working on the front lines of housing instability, food insecurity, mental health support, and crisis response, according to a press release.
“Through BCSN, we are able to listen directly to nonprofit professionals, identify emerging community needs, and work alongside partners to pilot meaningful solutions that support both organizations and the residents they serve,” Dion West, executive director of BCF, said in a written statement.
The initiative was shaped by nonprofit leaders and staff who requested more-accessible mental health resources and support through the BCSN network.
“Nonprofit leaders are providing essential community care and are always stretched thin,” Kathy Escobar, founder of The Refuge, said in a written statement. “This past year has been especially challenging, and we need all the mental health and practical resourcing we can get to stay healthy and meet the growing needs of the Broomfield community.”
BCSN connects more than 70 nonprofit organizations across Broomfield, creating a platform for collaboration and outreach. Using a one-time, non-renewable grant from 100 Women Who Care Broomfield, the Foundation has already piloted several wellness-focused activities for nonprofit professionals.
To date, programming has included:
• No-cost participation to ensure equitable access for nonprofit workers.
• An executive leadership mindfulness workshop.
• AcuDetox acupuncture sessions serving 23 nonprofit workers.*
• Upcoming behavioral health toolkit workshop led by a licensed mental health professional.
• Upcoming online meditation cohorts.
• Upcoming art therapy programming.
“This pilot program has demonstrated strong participation and clear community need, but one-time funding alone is not enough to create lasting impact,” West said. “As a community foundation, we believe our role is not only to help seed innovative solutions, but also to bring together partners, donors, and organizations who can help sustain programs that strengthen the nonprofit workforce and, ultimately, the wellbeing of our entire community.”
To sustain and expand the initiative, the Foundation is pursuing additional grants, healthcare partnerships and community investment opportunities that would support continued access to licensed mental health professionals, trauma-informed workshops, peer support groups, stress management training, and other resilience-building resources for nonprofit professionals.
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