Roots Community Health Center Uplifts African Americans “Forgotten and Ignored” By the Health Care System

Bo Tefu | Impact Alameda

For more than a decade now, health advocates at Roots Community Health Center have fought systemic racism and poverty in the health care system impacting African Americans in Alameda County.

Staff at the center say they have offered primary care and behavioral health services to blunt the generational impact the War on Drugs has had on Black and Brown communities.

“It’s our goal to make sure we’re targeting the populations that are usually forgotten and ignored and provide them with the care and support that they need,” said Shanice Smith, a social worker at Roots.

Behavioral health professionals at Roots initiated programs that offered resources to individuals reentering the community from prison and other underserved populations. The primary goal of the programs at Roots is to promote cultural competence in the health care system in addition to improving access to health care.

African Americans reentering society from the criminal justice system are often left untreated due to a lack of mental health resources. The devastating effects of the trauma inflicted by the prison system have left many Black men and women with mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety.

“A lot of our programs are for African Americans. We are targeting people who are re-entering from prison or jail because those populations aren’t getting as many resources as they should. We understand that mental health is huge when coming from an environment such as jail or prison,” said Smith.

According to a report by the Prison Policy Initiative, people who were formerly incarcerated are 10 times more likely to be homeless. The disproportionate number of  people in this population are African Americans who are also  incarcerated at higher rates. The report also indicates that the number of formerly incarcerated Black women is nearly double that of their male counterparts.

In California, African Americans, who make up around 6 % of the state’s population of nearly 40 million people, account for a disproportionate number of imprisoned people – almost 30 %, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). And among homeless people, U.S. Census Bureau data reveals, Blacks make up nearly 40 %, higher than any other ethnic group in the state per capita

Although access to health care is a priority, many homeless people living in poverty are simply struggling to survive day-to-day. Advocates for health and racial equity at Roots also collaborate with other community-based groups to offer housing and employment opportunities.

“It’s hard to think about mental health when you don’t have a house or anywhere to lay your head or when you’re hungry,” said Smith.

“So that’s a challenge as far as engaging them when they have other needs more important for their own survival,” she said.

The stigma associated with mental illness in Black and Brown communities has inspired behavioral health professionals at Roots to implement outreach programs that help individuals navigate the health care system. Smith said the existing model for mental health support in the health care system discourages Black and Brown people from getting the help they need.

“Sitting across from someone in a chair in a small office doing a clinical assessment doesn’t work for some cultures,” said Smith.

“We’re trying to provide services and help meet their needs, but the healthcare system doesn’t cater to different cultures,” she said.

The outreach team at Roots visits homeless encampments to offer therapy and housing vouchers for at-risk individuals. Professionals from Roots educate people in underserved communities to challenge stereotypes about mental health.

“Education on mental health is important. We have to change the language around mental health to let people know that when I say mental health, I’m not saying you’re crazy,” said Smith.

“I talk to my colleagues to look at language, see how we’re defining things, and talking about it more in a more realistic and relatable way,” she said.

According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Black and Brown people often mistrust mental health professionals who don’t look like them due to racism and the fear of being judged. Socioeconomic disparities also perpetuate inequality and discrimination by health care providers against low-income Black and Brown people.

Smith emphasized that African Americans have a positive response to Black mental health professionals who work in their respective communities.

“It’s a huge win that we have Black clinicians, you don’t see that a lot in behavioral health,” said Smith.

“When people come into the office you can see how surprised that the therapist is Black like them. There’s some familiarity there and an understanding that makes them feel a little more comfortable,” she said.

The intersection of mental health and social justice is pivotal for Roots which primarily serves at-risk populations with limited access to health care.

The organization’s programs that promote health equity and housing security are a testament to the transformative impact of community-based organizations in Black and Brown communities in Alameda County.