Programs

  • National Mental Health Project

    The national mental health project in El Salvador for people living with psychosocial disabilities and family caregivers (run by our partner ACISAM) has provided education, support, empowerment training and recreational activities since 2002. Training of police officers, health workers, social workers and other community leaders has been an important component to this program, which has served over 1200 individuals. Over 275 families have completed the 4 month educational program to learn about mental illness, self-care, and how to manage their loved one with serious mental illness. Randomized controlled studies in the U.S. have shown a similar program to result in reduced burden and stress, and improved compliance, communication, and self-efficacy. Advocacy is an important goal of the program: to improve services, voluntary participation, and government funding for mental health programs across the country, as well as to involve persons with mental illnesses in human rights commissions and reform efforts at the national level. We have carried out 2 qualitative studies that show benefits from the project's different components. In 2013 we carried out a qualitative study, and in 2015-2016 a quasi-experimental study to better understand the program, its impacts, and ways to improve it. Results demonstrated that the longer people participated in the program, the greater their gains in leadership development, empowerment, social capital, and other measures. In 2017 studies were developed and presented on access to medications and decentralization of mental health services in El Salvador.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $0

  • Mental Health International Project

    The Mental Health International project (MHI) has two components: 1) In January 2014 we began the formation of a national research collaborative focused on mental health needs in El Salvador. Funding is being sought to carry out implementation of an expanded national program along with research on the project, and other research as funding allows on topics determined significant by researchers, users, and families. 2) In September 2014 we began a new regional support effort (REDSAM) to strengthen user and family associations in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Government health agencies and the Pan American Health Organization have collaborated to help us with annual conferences (2015 in El Salvador, 2016 in Costa Rica, 2017 in Panama), family education and support courses in all countries, and economic initiatives and programs for users. Funding from the Inter-American Foundation is channelled directly to our partner agency ACISAM in El Salvador to manage the program.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $0

  • Community Support and Scholarships

    In 2017, CHHD continued to provide program and management advice (free) to a number of nonprofits, both international and in the U.S. and to provide scholarship funds for high school and university students in a low income community in El Salvador. We continue to provide support to Our Community Project in Harrisonburg Virginia, USA.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $0