PLATINUM2023

Community of Hearts

Together, we can HELP reduce stigma around mental health, ONE heart at a time.

Kentwood, MI   |  http://www.CommunityOfHearts.org

Mission

Community of Hearts' mission is Community of Hearts is a 501c3 non-profit, federally recognized grassroots movement designed to create Mental Health Advocates by promoting resources for Mental Health, Social and Emotional Wellness in our community. Through education, intentional media awareness campaigns and mobile mental health and wellness events we share educational resources to encourage community participation, navigation to resources and help reduce stigma so people can become comfortable getting the help they need, ONE HEART at a time.

Notes from the nonprofit

Thank you for your review! Together we can advocate better for mental health for social and emotional wellness, in our communities, one heart at a time. Take the pledge and become an advocate and take the free online training at www.communityofhearts.org

Ruling year info

2019

President

Monica Sparks

Main address

2180 44TH St. Se Suite 205

Kentwood, MI 49508 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

84-3390265

NTEE code info

Mental Health Treatment (F30)

Management & Technical Assistance (F02)

Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C. (P99)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Creating Mental Health Advocates. Mental Health Awareness , education and resources is very necessary in all communities, we need to help reduce stigma so people can get the help they need. Our Mental Health Advocate Training is taken for free online all across the USA. It is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Mental Health Advocate Training

Since our formation as a federally recognized 501c3 non-profit in 2019 we remain a 100% volunteer led and ran organization. We have designed a Mental Health publication, Community of Hearts Resource Guide, created a Mental Health Advocate Training Course available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, partnered with healthcare professionals to offer a mobile Mental Health Spa + Clinic for stress, anxiety and depression reduction in our community, as well as host many awareness events across Kent county. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
•Mental Health Advocate Training is a curriculum for people age 14 and up, who want to learn more about how to advocate for mental health. It is interactive, interesting easy to follow modules that one can take at their own pace. It helps create an understanding on Mental Health, Mental Wellness, Mental Health Issues and Illnesses, Proper terminology for Stigma Reduction, Signs and Symptoms, Types of Therapies and Treatments, and includes a Pledge, Certificate, and

Population(s) Served

•Community of Hearts Mental Health Resource Guide is a publication presenting resources for Seniors, Veterans, Children, Families, Individuals, Corporate Wellness, BIPOC, and LGBTQAI+, with navigation to resources across 7 Michigan counties. Kent, Allegan, Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa Counties.

Community of Hearts Mental Health Resource Guide is a full color 8x11 printed and digital publication (available in English and Spanish) that shares both local and national mental health resources for people ages 17-65. Our circulation throughout Michigan is over 22,713 physical copies a year and double that in downloads. It is also available in local Spanish grocery stores, beauty salons, churches, markets, restaurants, festivals and organizations.

Population(s) Served

EVENTS
•Happy Senior Tour: Our Mobile Happy Lights Relaxation Station rendered free Neck and Back Massages, Hand and Wrist Reflexology, with ChromoTherapy services and mental health resources to low to moderate income seniors. In 2022 we welcomed 1658 Seniors from 15 centers across Kent County for Mental Health & Stress reduction to reduce isolation, depression, anxiety.

•Celebrity Purse Auction, now in its 12th year the second Wednesday in September, 200+ women gather annually to support mental health, and shop for and bid on designer purses.

Community of Hearts
•International Foodie Fest for Mental Health is held to coincide with the International Mental Health Awareness day to support Mental Health Awareness and stigma reduction in BIPOC communities. Over 200 people gather to celebrate Mental Health, people, culture, foods and drinks from around the globe with Community Of Hearts.

Population(s) Served

MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SPA + CLINIC
Our Mobile Happy Lights Relaxation Station currently operates in Kent County and are proud to be listed on Harvard University’s Mobile Health Clinic site. The Mental Health & Wellness Clinic helps reduce stress, depression, anxiety and isolation in the community.
We have the staff and availability to offer Depression and other Health Screenings, Wellness Shots, IV Hydration, Massage (Head Back & Neck) Reflexology (Hand & Wrist) and ChromoTherapy Light Therapy.

Population(s) Served

INITIATIVES
•Mental Health Advocate Awareness Month Initiative is our way to break the stigma around mental health for social and emotional wellness, one heart at a time in communities across America. Our goal is to get Congress to declare January as National Mental Health Advocate Month. If we cannot get a month we will take a week or a day!

A day of action, power and unity in the community, breaking down stigma and barriers to Mental Health…By creating a Community of Hearts Mental Health Advocate Day, during the month when depression hits a peak because of the lack of sun, the loneliness and loss or debt of the holiday starts to sink in, we can show support for mental health, social and emotional wellness in communities around the globe. Advocating is a way to educate, bring awareness to, stand up for and share the burden of reducing the stigma so people can navigate to the resources and know that they are loved.

This day is a day to remove stigma, take a pledge to become a men

Population(s) Served

•Stress Less Student Initiative 25% of school aged children are on an anti-anxiety medication. The stress and and hopeless they feel is only going to increase as the rate of suicide, now, the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34 skyrockets. Mental health issues like anxiety and depression can lead to suicidal thoughts that stem from stress, worry, fears, environment, pain and other issues that are beyond a child’s control.

We can all agree that the mental health of children is important, because it affects our future community. All children deserve every opportunity to thrive.

Science has proven that the colors we see affect our mood, and the way we act or react, so therapist utilize a simple tool called ChromoTherapy glasses in their sessions. Children wear the glasses with yellow lens to calm down, manage and reduce anxiety. These glasses can be very costly, averaging $30 a pair.

Community of Hearts is a grass roots 100% volunteer led and ran federally recognized

Population(s) Served
Families
Parents
Non-adult children
Victims and oppressed people
Economically disadvantaged people
Families
Parents
Non-adult children
Victims and oppressed people
Economically disadvantaged people
Families
Parents
Non-adult children
Victims and oppressed people
Economically disadvantaged people
Families
Parents
Non-adult children
Victims and oppressed people
Economically disadvantaged people
Families
Parents
Non-adult children
Victims and oppressed people
Economically disadvantaged people
Families
Parents
Non-adult children
Victims and oppressed people
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of volunteer management professionals trained

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Mental Health Advocate Training

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

We were just formed and started so we had to train our volunteer representatives on Mental Health Awareness.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Mental Health Awareness, education and events to help share resources to reduce stigma, ONE heart at a time. We would like to have the Mental Health Advocate Training available in 10 different languages to reflect the community populations.

Our strategy includes building partnerships and networks to create Mental Health advocates in schools, corporations, churches and organizations that want to help educate their populations for a better community and so people can aspire and easily navigate to the help they need.

We are connected to our community, and have a strategic plan in place that includes local DIVERSE media outlets and events. We are now excited to work with AmeriCorps to build organizational capacity.

We have been able to build Community support for over 20 events for Mental Health Events. In 2022 we hosted 658 Seniors at 15 centers across Kent County.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Community of Hearts
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Community of Hearts

Board of directors
as of 03/08/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Monica Sparks

Community of Hearts

Term: 2019 - 2025

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/8/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 03/08/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.