Advancing Health Equity: Celebrating Our April Impact and a New Mental Health Partnership
At the Center for Transformative Health (CTH), we’re committed to meeting our community where they are. We believe that health equity begins with access—access to care, resources, and knowledge.
April has been a powerful month of connection and impact for our team, as we engaged with hundreds of community members through education, wellness services, and campus-based collaborations, filled with impactful events that celebrated both community wellness and environmental.
We are excited and proud to announce a powerful new collaboration. A transformative new partnership focused on expanding mental health care and support in underserved communities for those who need it most.
🔬 April 2: Research Week at Texas Southern University
We kicked off the month by co-hosting and vending at Texas Southern University’s Research Week Hub and Exposition on April 2, where the theme was “Innovation in Action: Advancing Participation in Research, Community Engagement, and Entrepreneurship.”
With over 300 attendees, this annual event provided a platform for education and dialogue around preventive health, research participation, and innovation. We provided health education, free giveaways, and awareness materials focused on:
Diabetes
Cardiovascular disease
Stroke
Mental health
COVID-19 and Long COVID
Our presence helped bridge the gap between academic research and community health needs, with a strong emphasis on preventive care and equitable access to information.
🌱 Earth Day on Campus: Wellness Meets Sustainability
On April 22, CTH joined the Bullard Center on the campus of TSU, for an Earth Day celebration. With a vibrant Farmer’s Market held at Sawyer Plaza, the event featured fresh local produce, a live DJ, and sustainability-focused booths that energized the campus with green vibes and wellness education.
CTH hosted a wellness table, offering:
Free blood pressure screenings
Educational outreach on Long COVID
Over 20 participants screened on site
35+ informational flyers distributed on the lasting effects of COVID-19, especially among those with chronic conditions
Our table was a hub for curiosity, community connection, and compassionate care. It was a reminder that sustainability doesn’t just mean protecting the environment—it also means investing in our own health and the health of our neighbors.
💻 Virtual Webinar: Long-Haul COVID & Chronic Disease
Later that week, we continued the conversation through a virtual Zoom webinar titled “Parallel Path – Long Haul COVID & Chronic Diseases,” presented by Joel Silva, MPH from the Houston Health Department. This educational session explored how COVID-19 continues to impact individuals—particularly those living with chronic illnesses.
From managing long-haul symptoms to understanding the lasting implications of the virus, attendees left with actionable knowledge and a deeper understanding of how chronic conditions and COVID-19 intersect.
🏃♂️ Black Men’s Wellness Day Walk: Showing Up for Community Health
On April 26, CTH proudly participated as a wellness vendor at the Black Men’s Wellness Day Walk, hosted by the African American Male Wellness Agency on the University of Houston campus. This energizing event brought together over 10, 000 community members, health advocates, and service providers to promote physical activity, preventative screenings, and a shared vision of dedication to the health equity for Black men and their families.
At our booth, we once again provided free health screenings and vital information, contributing to a broader movement that centers health and longevity in communities that are too often underserved.
🧠 A New Chapter: Expanding Access to Mental Health Services
In addition to these events, we are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking new five-month partnership with The Imago Dei Firm to bring free, virtual mental health screenings to residents of Houston’s Third Ward and surrounding communities.
This initiative will provide 150 community members with access to:
Virtual PHQ-9 depression screenings
Biopsychosocial assessments for a holistic view of mental well-being
Brief interventions and referrals based on individual needs
Outcome evaluations to track impact and improve service quality
What makes this collaboration so unique is its community-based model. CTH community workers will serve as the first point of contact, guiding participants through the process with empathy and care. Clinical psychology graduate students from our team will support preparation and documentation, while The Imago Dei Firm handles clinical screenings and follow-up.
Every aspect of the initiative is designed with privacy, accessibility, and cultural relevance in mind. From HIPAA-compliant platforms to monthly progress reports that track both participant outcomes and community impact, this program goes beyond standard care. It represents a blueprint for how collaborative, dignified mental health support can be scaled in historically underserved areas.
🔍 Why This Matters
Access to mental health care should not be a privilege—it’s a necessity. Yet too many people in our communities go without help due to stigma, lack of insurance, or simply not knowing where to turn. This initiative helps change that. It’s an investment not only in individual well-being, but in community resilience and health equity.
With a program budget of $30,000, over 60% will go directly toward mental health services. The rest will support data management and research—ensuring this effort is sustainable, measurable, and impactful.
📢 What’s Next? How You Can Get Involved
We encourage everyone in our network to:
Share this initiative with friends, neighbors, and colleagues in the Third Ward area and beyond
Participate in upcoming health events and webinars
Stay informed through our newsletters and social media
Together, we’re building a healthier, more informed, and more connected community—one event, one screening, and one person at a time.
Stay connected with the Center for Transformative Health, and let’s continue transforming health, together. 💚