On June 5, 2024 from 9:30 AM to noon, C3EN hosted a Community-Based Organization Research Convening on the subject of mental health in partnership with the University of Chicago Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), the Chicago Consortium for Community Engagement (C3), Northwestern University Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), and the UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science at Rush University Medical Center’s Searle Conference Center. The event featured presentations by community-based organizations on their services addressing mental health, breakout groups, and networking over light refreshments. Thirty-two people were in attendance: 16 representatives from community-based organizations and 16 researchers.

Girls in the Game, a citywide organization that uses sport as a tool to develop social-emotional skills and drive positive outcomes in girls’ lives through an evidence-based health and leadership curriculum delivered after school, in summer camps, and in other settings, was one of the featured community-based organizations. Jess Larson, their senior manager of community impact and strategy, shared some of the ways that research continues to play a part in Girls in the Game’s programming. Surveys and focus groups have pinpointed issues of concern for girls on the west side of Chicago including “adultification,” the biased perception of Black girls as being less innocent and more adult-like than their white peers and thus less in need of nurturing and protection, as well as education, safety, and health.

Next to present was Breakthrough, which builds connections, develops skills, and fosters opportunities for community members of Garfield Park through education, youth development, economic opportunity, health and wellness, violence prevention, and spiritual formation. Chief program officer Cheryl Massonburg and director of behavioral health services Lisa Wiese spoke about their integrated wellness model, which includes separate behavioral health facilities for men and women, peer support, and integrating mental health services into after school programs.

After the presentations, attendees discussed gaps in mental health research, community needs to be addressed in underserved populations, data needed for developing mental health programs, challenges in the field of mental health, and evidence-based practices that should be tested in underserved populations. Lively discussions unearthed many challenges to address, as well a need for measuring the extent of problems and the impact of solutions. Scalability of programs, cultural tailoring for communities, and addressing root causes of access, opportunity, investment, education, and environment were also discussed.

“This initial convening was a great success but it is really only the first step,” said C3EN co-director Elbert Huang. “We look forward to hosting these community-researcher convenings on a regular basis to encourage more collaborations across the city of Chicago.”