The new project aims to empower pastors and 35 congregations with comprehensive church health, intertwining mental health, Christian counseling, and emotional healing with theologically grounded measures. The program keenly recognizes that Latino congregations confront not only the formidable challenge of mental illness but also represent a transformative opportunity to surmount this challenge.

The program is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The national initiative aims to strengthen Christian congregations to help people deepen their relationships with God, build strong relationships with each other and contribute to the flourishing of local communities and the world.

“For more than a decade, Hispanic Access has been committed to serving Latino communities by partnering with a robust network of Latino clergy representing tens of thousands of churches of all denominations,” said Hispanic Access’ President and CEO Maite Arce. “We believe in the transformative power of churches to nourish, educate, and heal. These churches, deeply rooted in their communities, serve as pivotal platforms to champion good mental health grounded in Christian theology, promote treatment-seeking behavior, and combat stigmatizing views on mental illness.”

Using a cohort model, Hispanic Access will engage the congregations in the following activities:

1. Training in Christian Counseling and Emotional Healing
2. In-person Reflection and Guided Conversations
3. Development and Dissemination of Bilingual, Theologically Rich Materials
4. Bi-monthly Support Meetings with Balcony Time
5. Facilitation of Church Screenings of Bilingual Film on Latino Mental Health

Hispanic Access is one of 247 organizations that has received implementation funding through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. Reflecting a wide variety of Christian traditions, the organizations represent mainline and evangelical Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Anabaptist and Pentecostal faith communities.

“Congregations play an essential role in deepening the faith of individuals and contributing to the vitality of communities,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “We hope that these programs will nurture the vibrancy and spark the creativity of congregations, helping them imagine new ways to share God’s love in their communities and across the globe.”