Newsletter Alert – The Latest Updates
Thank you Medica Foundation!
Support through a grant from the Medica Foundation has granted us the opportunity to expand our clinic-based services. This has allowed us to add two additional therapists to our team to serve clients at our South Minneapolis clinic.
Meet Micheline Mutombo-Harris, MSW, Provisional LICSW and Ashley Nelson, LMFT!
Micheline Mutombo-Harris, MSW, Provisional LICSW
practice is ideal for Black women, immigrant women, and young mothers of color confronted with life challenges who need assistance addressing depressive and anxiety symptoms in a safe and judgment-free environment so change can occur. Micheline uses a person-centered therapeutic approach (and other appropriate intervention methods) so clients can feel empowered and emotionally self-sufficient to trace a clear path toward healing. Read more about Micheline here.
Ashley Nelson, LMFT
Ashley is excited to work with BIPOC communities, specifically foster and adoptive families and transracial adoptions. She supports people who are struggling to navigate this world. She brings a culturally affirming, intersectional lens to every session and offers a mix of therapeutic modalities to her practice. Ashley believes therapy is the best form of exploring your strengths and sharing your own stories of healing and growth. Read more about Ashley here.
Thank you Medica Foundation!
Implementing CLAS Standards at Watercourse
This year, we are focusing on strategic initiatives to better serve our community. Watercourse has maintained a mission to be responsive to the shifting and emerging needs of our diverse community. As part of this ongoing commitment, we are pleased to announce our adoption of the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards throughout our organization.
Watercourse is committed to evolving with the needs of our community. Adopting CLAS Standards will ensure our policies and practices meet the cultural and linguistic needs of our community. It provides us with a structured framework that assists us in successfully addressing the emotional health and wellness of the community we serve. Our staff and board are fully supportive of this initiative and bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table. While resource constraints have posed challenges in the past, we are dedicated to allocating the necessary time and resources to implement CLAS Standards effectively.
This means we will implement CLAS Standards focused on:
- communication and language assistance by providing interpreter services and translated materials,
- governance and workforce by providing staff and board CLAS training, and
- organizational accountability by designing a standardized system of assessment and data-driven quality improvement.
By focusing on these standards, we aim to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities that have impacted people of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds for far too long.
Stay tuned for more updates as we implement these standards.