APA and APAF Honor Pakistan Association of Greater Boston and New York Foundling as Moore Equity in Mental Health Grantees

Washington, D.C. — In honor of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Division of Diversity and Health Equity and the APA Foundation (APAF) recognized New York Foundling and Pakistan Association of Greater Boston as APAF Moore Equity in Mental Health Community Grants Program grantees. The two 2023 recipients were honored for their effective work to increase access to mental health and behavioral health care services for young people of color.

Each organization was awarded a grant of $10,000 allotted over two years, funded in part by APA’s Moore Equity in Mental Health 5K. This year’s 5K, the third annual race, will take place on July 29 virtually or in Wheaton, MD; register now and learn more about the APA’s other Minority Mental Health Awareness events.

"Now more than ever, young people and people of color are vulnerable to gaps in our healthcare system," said Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq., Executive Director of APAF. "The work that New York Foundling and Pakistan Association of Greater Boston have undertaken is filling a crucial need and ensuring that the future of American mental health is bright."

Founded in 1869, the New York Foundling provides community programming in the areas of child welfare, developmental disabilities, juvenile and criminal justice, education, and behavioral health for all five boroughs. New York Foundling will build on its existing work in East Harlem with ARTsq: Art to Advance, Restore, Transform. ARTsq empowers young people with a history of trauma to heal by engaging in restorative practices such as art workshops and spending time in designated mental health spaces.

Pakistan Association of Greater Boston (PAGB) has been organizing social and cultural bonding activities for the American-Pakistani community in the Boston area and surrounding Northeastern states since 1990. Using the Moore Equity in Mental Health Community Grants funding, PAGB will hold events to educate young people in the American-Pakistani community about the consequences of substance use on behavioral health and the best practices for substance use disorder care.

Learn more about Bebe Moore Campbell and the Moore Equity in Mental Health Initiative.

American Psychiatric Association Foundation

The American Psychiatric Association Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of APA. The APA Foundation promotes awareness of mental illnesses and the effectiveness of treatment, the importance of early intervention, access to care, and the need for high-quality services and treatment through a combination of public and professional education, research, research training, grants, and awards.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 38,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA's vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.