Urban League Program Aims to Improve Access to Mental Health Care

The Greater Stark County Urban League (Canton, OH) has launched the Cultural Ally Program to improve mental health care access for underserved communities.

The program is funded by a $159,000 grant through Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery.

The Cultural Ally Program aims to bridge the divide between behavioral health services and diverse populations, including Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, veterans, and economically marginalized people.

A "cultural ally" serves as a liaison between mental health providers and community members, advocates for culturally responsive care, helps people navigate mental health resources and builds trust and resilience by promoting self-support systems within communities.

“Navigating mental health care can be overwhelming, especially for communities that have faced historical disparities in access to care,” Thomas West, president and CEO of the Greater Stark County Urban League, said in a prepared statement. “This program is about more than just connecting individuals to services − it’s about empowering communities with the knowledge, trust and advocacy they need to thrive.”

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