Mental Health Counseling and treatment is still considered taboo in most communities of color. However, when communities of color are exposed to counseling which is both faith based and provided by persons of color, rates of seeking help increase.

Adequate mental health resources are needed for addiction & recovery, homelessness, normal life stressors, and re-entry programs after incarceration. During incarceration, males of color are forced to have mental health assessments. These assessments unveil years of undiagnosed and untreated abuse, anger, depression, and aggression. Furthermore, many of the underlying reasons for alcohol and drug addiction stem from the age-old communities of color – “don’t talk about what happened in this house” – code of honor. When matters are not
talked about, they can materialize in poor mental health quality and deviant behavior. KFGCDC intends to address both.

Also, many persons in ministry along with other care-giving services walk away from their professions due to exhaustion and lack of mental care resources. Persons in these fields often desert their occupations due to lack of trusted and confidential mental health support. In communities of color, challenges also
remain for black pastors, ministers and caregivers to foster or have a safe place for their own care and well being. Unfortunately, some have resorted to suicide. Therefore, KFGCDC will provide specialized care, training, and internships for persons seeking mental health and/or pastoral care counseling along with approved certification for institutional chaplaincy.