♪ PARIS: THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS MADE A BOLD MOVE, PEOPLE.

AND BY BOLD I MAY THE KIND OF MOVE YOU MAKE WHEN YOU DON’T THINK THROUGH THE CYCLE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT YOU, TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED II?

IT RECLASSIFIED PROGRAMS INCLUDING NURSING, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK.

OUT OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE CATEGORY WHICH JUST SO HAPPENS TO LOWER HOW MUCH STUDENTS CAN BORROW TO PURSUE THEM.

NOTHING SAYS WE VALUE CARE WORK LIKE SHRINKING THE FINANCIAL RUNWAY YOU NEED TO GET TRAINED FOR IT.

UNDER THE NEW RULES, DEGREES LIKE NURSING THAT ONCE QUALIFY FOR A HIGHER $200,000 FEDERAL LOAN LIMIT WILL NOW MAXED OUT AT $100,000 TOTAL.

THE DEPARTMENT INSISTS THIS IS NOT A JUDGMENT OF THE PROFESSION, JUST A RECLASSIFICATION WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE SAYING, IT’S NOT THAT WE DON’T THINK YOU’RE ESSENTIAL, YOU ARE JUST NOT LOAN LIMIT ESSENTIAL.

LET’S BE REAL.

IF WE ARE CALLING OUT DEFAULT RISK, MAYBE WE SHOULD ALSO CALL OUT THE FACT THAT THESE CAREERS -- THE ONES STAFFING OUR HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES -- HAVE NOT SEEN WAGES RISE WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

PEOPLE MUCH STRUGGLE TO REPAY YOU.

BUT HERE’S THE LAYER NOBODY IN THE DOE PRESS RELEASES IS TALKING ABOUT.

THESE FIELDS ARE DOMINATED BY WOMEN AND IN MANY CASES WOMEN OF COLOR.

SO WHEN YOU REDUCE BORROWING POWER, YOU ARE NOT JUST TIGHTENING A BUDGET LINE, YOU ARE TIGHTENING THE PIPELINE INTO PROFESSIONS WHERE REPRESENTATION ALREADY MATTERS DEEPLY.

LIMIT ACCESS TO ADVANCED NURSING DEGREES, AND YOU DEEPEN WORKFORCE SHORTAGES.

ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES THAT RELY HEAVILY ON NURSE PRACTITIONERS.

THIS IS NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

IT’S REARRANGING THE FURNITURE IN A BURNING BUILDING.

THE ISSUE IS NOT THAT STUDENTS BORROW TOO MUCH.

IT’S THAT THE COST OF EDUCATION HAS SKYROCKETED, BUT WAGES HAVEN’T.

THE SOLUTION BEING OFFERED IS, WELL, WHAT IF WE GIVE YOU LESS MONEY TO NAVIGATE ALL THAT?

A FIRE AND HE COULD EARN INTEREST, THESE BURROS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE OK.

THIS ALSO IMPACTS THE COMMUNITIES THE GRADUATES SERVE.

ON YOUR CAP LOANS AND SHRINK OPPORTUNITIES, YOU IMPACT THE FUTURE OF THERAPISTS, TEACHERS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS WILL REFLECT THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE -- PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ALREADY FIGHTING FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARE AND SUPPORT.

WE KNOW THE PROBLEM, NOW LET’S GET TO THE ROOT OF IT.

I’M PARIS ALSTON, AND THIS IS "ROOTED."

WE ARE DIGGING INTO THE NEW FEDERAL LOAN CAPS COULD WORSEN THE NURSING SHORTAGE IN COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

PARIS: NURSE DON, WHY IS THIS CHANGE IN CLASSIFICATION FOR NURSING DEGREES SO SIGNIFICANT?

>> THE ADMINISTRATION REMOVED NURSING FROM THE FEDERAL LIST OF PROFESSIONAL DEGREES AND THAT LIMITS HOW MUCH STUDENTS CAN BORROW FOR ADVANCED NURSING PROGRAMS.

NOW, IT SOUNDS A LITTLE TECHNICAL BUT IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS AFFORDABILITY.

GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAMS -- ESPECIALLY NURSE PRACTITIONER, DOCTOR OF NURSE PRACTITIONER AND PHD TRACKS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND MANY STUDENTS RELY HEAVILY ON FEDERAL LOANS.

WHEN BORROWING IS CAP, ACCESS IS CAPPED AND IT HITS BLACK STUDENTS THE HARDEST.

PARIS: IS IT POSSIBLE THIS COULD LEAD TO FEWER NURSES?

AND IF SO, WHAT COULD THAT MEAN FOR THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?

>> YES, EXACTLY.

WHENEVER YOU MINUTE -- YOU LIMIT THE ABILITY FOR A PERSON TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION BY MAKING IT OUT OF REACH ECONOMICALLY, LESS PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO GO INTO THAT FIELD.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO IS NOT INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY.

WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO PUT A CAP ON GRADUATE EDUCATION IN LOANS, THAT RESTRICTS THE POSSIBILITIES FOR A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.

AND WHAT IS SO CONCERNING ABOUT IT IS WHILE ADVANCED NURSING DEGREES ARE NO LONGER LISTED AS PROFESSIONAL DEGREES, WHICH IS INSANE, IT IS EVEN HARD FOR ME TO SAY THAT AS A PHYSICIAN KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT NURSES ARE TO CARE, BUT OTHERS ALONGSIDE THEM WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN SINGLED OUT AND ATTACKED IF YOU WILL, SOCIAL WORKERS, PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO LIMIT THE POSSIBILITIES FOR PATIENT-CENTERED CARE FOR AND INTEGRATED CARE WORKFORCE, PATIENTS ARE NOT GOING TO GET SAFE, HIGH QUALITY CARE.

THAT’S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE.

PARIS: GIVEN THE 88% OF REGISTERED NURSES BEING WOMEN, HOW CAN THE RECLASSIFICATION REINFORCE THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS?

>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN OUR SOCIETY WE ARE NOT ONLY LIMITED BY RACISM, A SYSTEM OF STRUCTURING OPPORTUNITY BASED OFF A SOCIAL CATEGORY, WE ARE ALSO LIMITED BY SEXISM OR GENDERISM, AND WOMEN OFTEN TIMES ARE RESTRICTED BECAUSE OF A LESS -- BECAUSE OF LESS OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER THESE COMPETITIVE FIELDS.

WE ARE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ADVANCED DEGREE NURSING.

IF WOMEN ARE NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION SO THEY CAN BE A PART OF THE PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE -- I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS -- ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES ARE A PART OF THE PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE, THIS IS JUST GOING TO LIMIT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MOBILITY.

THIS IS GO INTO FURTHER ENTRENCHED THE SOCIAL CAST WE LIVE -- CASTE WE LIVE IN IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT IS DESTRUCTIVE ON AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT AS WELL.

PARIS: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR NURSING SCHOOLS?

>> THERE’S GOING TO BE FEWER PEOPLE THAT ARE IN ACADEMIA AND TEACHING IN NURSING.

NURSING SCHOOLS WILL HAVE LESS STUDENTS NOW.

IT’S JUST A MESS ALL AROUND.

IT’S JUST MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME NURSES AND BECOME ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES AND EVEN IMAGINED THEY CAN GO BEYOND.

PARIS: ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE PURSUING NURSING DEGREES OR WANT TO FOR FINANCING THEIR EDUCATION?

>> IT DOES NOT END FINANCING, IT JUST CAPS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT CAN -- THAT THEY CAN OBTAIN.

SO PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING AT NOT GOING INTO THE ADVANCED PRACTICE, THERE’S NO SHAME IN BEING AN RN.

I AM AN RN.

I DID NOT GO TO ADVANCE PRACTICE.

BUT FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO DO THAT, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT -- ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE -- WE HAVE MORE NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND PA’S THAN WE HAVE PHYSICIANS JUST BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO COME PRACTICE.

THAT PIPELINE IS GOING TO BE CUT OFF AS WELL.

PARIS: IN MANY CASES, BLACK PATIENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER A BLACK NURSE THAN A BLACK DOCTOR.

HOW COULD THIS RECLASSIFICATION AND ULTIMATELY THIS LOSS WERE SENT HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICANS -- WORSEN HEALTH CARE FOR BLACK AMERICANS?

>> BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH YOUR PROVIDER AND CARE TEAM IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT YOU RECEIVED.

NOT ONLY DO -- DOES IT INFLUENCE THE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE PATIENT AND THE DOCTOR OR THE CARE TEAM AND THE PATIENT, WE KNOW THAT -- THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IF PATIENTS DO NOT SEE SOMEONE WHO REFLECTS THEIR HUMANITY OR RESPECTS THEIR DIGNITY, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES NECESSARY FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE A BETTER HEALTH OUTCOME.

WHEN A PATIENT IS BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN, DOES NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BLACK PERSON ON THEIR CARE TEAM, THAT PERSON RISKS GETTING LOWER QUALITY CARE.

AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS THE RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THE -- SHOWS THE TYPES OF RECOMMENDATIONS, THE TYPE OF TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE SUGGESTED ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE RACE AND ETHNICITY OF THE PROVIDER AND CARE TEAM.

THIS IS NOT A WAY TO SETTLE HEALTH DISPARITIES.

THIS IS A WAY TO WORSEN THOSE DISPARITIES AND MAKE HEALTH OUTCOMES EVEN MORE TENUOUS.

>> -- PARIS: I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE YOU TWO.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP BLACK NURSES COMING THROUGH DESPITE THIS RECLASSIFICATION.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

PARIS: NOW WE WILL TAKE YOU INSIDE CHILDREN’S SERVICES OF ROXBURY WHERE A NEW PROGRAM IS OPENING DOORS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PURSUE ADVANCED COUNSELING DEGREES.

IT IS AN EFFORT AIMED AT GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS FROM WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY SERVE.

CHECK IT OUT.

WELL, HELLO.

WE ARE AT THE CHILDREN’S SERVICES OF ROXBURY TODAY KICKING OFF A NEW COHORT OF A GRADUATE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE WITH BIRMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY AND WE WILL CHECK OUT WHAT THE AGENCY DOES AS A WHOLE AND WHAT CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING.

LET’S GO INSIDE.

♪ CSR PARTNERS WITH FSU TO PROVIDE MASTERS DEGREES TO STAFF IN-HOUSE AND FREE OF CHARGE.

IT IS A WAY TO GET MORE BLACK AND BROWN MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.

FOR MANY PARTICIPANTS, IT IS ACCESS TO A CAREER PATH THAT ONCE FELT OUT OF REACH.

>> AND HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF BLACK AND -- BLACK AND BROWN MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND WE HAD PEOPLE IN OUR AGENCY WHO WE KNEW COULD NOT GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

ANOTHER OBSTACLE IS TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

SO WE PARTNER WITH A FUNDER WHO -- PARTNERED WITH A FUNDER WHO ALLOWED US TO HAVE A QUOTE -- A COHORT OF 20 PEOPLE, 16 OF WHOM GRADUATED IN DECEMBER WITH A DEGREE IN MENTAL HEALTH AND IT ALLOWS HIM TO MOVE FORWARD TO GET A LICENSE AND THEY CAME FROM ALL PARTS OF OUR AGENCY.

SO THEY DID NOT HAVE TO BE PART OF OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT IT ALLOWED THEM TO GET THEIR DEGREE FOR ABSOLUTELY FREE AND THEY TOOK CLASSES HERE AT THE AGENCY SO OUR PARTNERS -- ARE PARTNER PROFESSORS CAME HERE TO PROVIDE THE EDUCATION.

IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.

I AM HAPPY TO SAY TODAY AS WE SAID HERE, THE SECOND COHORT IS STARTING THEIR CLASSES TODAY.

>> WE DON’T HAVE AS MANY CLINICIANS OF COLOR AS WE WOULD LIKE TO.

BUT IT IS GROWING.

CSR HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GAIN MORE.

>> NATIONWIDE, NEARLY 80% OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE WHITE, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.

CHANGE THE -- TO CHANGE THAT, CSR NOT ONLY ELIMINATES COST AND TIME BARRIERS BUT ALSO HARNESSES SOMETHING TRADITIONAL PIPELINES OFTEN OVERLOOK.

LIVED EXPERIENCE.

MUCH OF THE STAFF UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURE, LANGUAGE, TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE OF THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIVED IN THEMSELVES.

>> IT WAS HARD TO SHARE LIVED EXPERIENCE IN CLASSROOMS WITH PEOPLE THAT DID NOT LOOK LIKE ME AND UNDERSTAND MY CHALLENGES AND STRUGGLES AS A YOUNG BLACK FEMALE GROWING UP IN BOSTON.

AND HOW THAT IMPACTED MY CAREER PATH.

PARIS: REPRESENTATION IS NOT JUST SYMBOLIC.

IT CHANGES OUTCOMES.

FOR INSTANCE, THE AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION FINDS BLACK MEN ARE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE MISDIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA THAN WHITE MEN WHILE BEING UNDER DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD AND WOOD DISORDERS STEMMING FROM PROVIDER BIAS AND STEREOTYPING.

THESE DISPARITIES SHAPE TRUST, TREATMENT AND LONG-TERM WELL-BEING.

>> LIVED EXPERIENCE IS THE MAIN QUALIFICATION TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF SUPPORT.

YOU ARE RELATABLE, YOU UNDERSTAND CULTURE AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE LIVED IT YOURSELF OR ARE LIVING IT.

>> CSR BEING ABLE TO COME INTO THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT LIVED EXPERIENCE -- JUST GIVE THEM THE COMFORT ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND OPEN UP AND GIVE THEM THAT COMFORTABLENESS TO BE LIKE, I CAN SHOW THEM THIS AND I CAN EXPLAIN THIS TO THEM, I CAN TELL THEM THIS BECAUSE THEY WILL ALSO UNDERSTAND ME.

TO HAVE THOSE IN THAT COMMUNITY SEE THAT, THEY ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF SOMETHING, I FEEL LIKE CSR IS GIVING THEM THAT AS WELL, THEY ARE SHOWING THEM RATHER THAN JUST TELLING THEM.

>> WE HIRE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND WE TRAIN THEM TO TRANSLATE THAT TO A FAMILY COMING IN IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY AND THEY CAN BE HERE.

MAYBE THEY HAVE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE OR ALREADY HAD A DEGREE BUT NOW THEY GET A MASTERS FOR FREE SO THIS IS A BENEFIT AND AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I THINK IS UNIQUELY HELPFUL TO ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO THE FIELD.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED FOR WHAT I CALL SORT OF A HIGHER CALLING.

AND WE PRESENT OURSELVES AS A PLACE TO MEET THAT AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU’RE TALKING TO SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHO MAY LIVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM YOU OR IN A FAMILIAR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE A CONNECTEDNESS THAT MATTERS.

CULTURAL CONGRUENCY IN THESE SERVICES IS IMPERATIVE AND I THINK THAT IS THE GAP THEY ARE FILLING.

PARIS: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

CULTURAL CONNECTION CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STABILITY AND ANOTHER LAYER OF TRAUMA.

MANY CASES INVOLVE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS WHICH COMES WITH ITS OWN NUANCES.

>> IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE MORE FOSTER PARENTS BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A GREAT NUMBER OF REFERRALS FOR CHILDREN TO BE PLACED IN AND THERE ARE NOT IN FOSTER FAMILIES TO PLEASE THE CHILDREN.

ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RECRUIT FAMILIES THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE CULTURAL CARE FOR CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES.

IT IS CHALLENGING FOR CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

WE DO KNOW CHILDREN WITHIN THEIR OWN FAMILY HAVE THEIR OWN CULTURE -- REGARDLESS OF THE ETHNIC -- THE ETHNICITY.

SO REMOVING THE CHILD, PLACING THEM IN A HOME THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE, IS ANOTHER TRAUMA.

THAT THEY CANNOT RELATE WITH THE PRACTICES AND CULTURE AND FOOD.

IT IS AN IMPACT.

PARIS: MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE CSR SERVES HAVE EXPERIENCE THE AND STABILITY, SHIFTING HOMES AND PROVIDERS.

WHAT THEY NEED MOST IS CONSISTENCY AND COUNSELORS WHO SEE THEM BEYOND LABELS OR CASE FILES.

>> A LOT OF INSTABILITY WITH FAMILY AND WORKING IN THE FOSTER CARE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY IS KIDS COME WITH A LOT OF INSTABILITY AND EXPERIENCES AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THEIR LIVES.

THE BIGGEST THING IS BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPSS WITH THEM AND CONSISTENCY BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF INCONSISTENCY IN THEIR LIVES WITH PEOPLE GIVING UP ON THEM IN A WAY.

I THINK JUST AGAIN MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT BEYOND ANY LABELS AND PRIOR REPORTS WE WERE GIVEN.

PARIS: HOUSING, FOOD ACCESS, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE ALL SHAPE A CHILD’S ABILITY TO THRIVE.

THAT IS WHY THEY TAKE A WRAPAROUND APPROACH.

>> THE SERVICES SERVICE CHILDREN, BUT WE SERVICE THE WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY.

YOU CAN’T SERVICE THE CHILD WITHOUT SERVICING THE CAREGIVER, MOM, DAD, THE OLDEST SIBLING AND UNCLE, WHOEVER IS CARING FOR THE CHILD.

WHEN I SAY WRAPAROUND, WE WRAP AROUND THE WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

AND YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT IS NOT THRIVING IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EAT BREAKFAST AND THE CAREGIVER IS AT HOME AND CAN’T FIND A JOB AND COULD NOT AFFORD FOOD FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK, SO THE CHILD GOES TO SCHOOL HUNGRY -- YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THE CAREGIVER FIRST.

>> SO MANY FAMILIES DO NOT KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE OTHER HOUSING OR JUST WHERE TO FIND THE CLOSEST FOOD PANTRY.

>> WE DO KNOW THAT EVERY PERSON IS DIFFERENT AND EVERY FAMILY IS DIFFERENT.

EVERY CHILD COMES WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PARENTS ARE WELL-TRAINED WHEN IT COMES TO TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND THE NEED OF THAT PARTICULAR CHILD.

IF WE IDENTIFY SPECIFIC NEEDS, A PARTICULAR GROUP OF CHILDREN, WE WANT TO ENSURE THE FAMILIES ARE PROPERLY TRAINED OR INFORMED ON HOW TO SERVE THE CHILD BETTER.

>> WE HAVE A PROGRAM HERE WHERE THEY HELP THE FATHER AND TEACH THEM HOW TO RAISE A KID, HOW TO TALK TO THEM.

IT HELPED ME A LOT.

I TOOK THAT COURSE HERE AND IT HELPED ME A LOT WITH MY KID.

SOMETIMES KIDS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT THE SAME.

SO THEY HELPED ME HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM, MY MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVED.

BECAUSE I COULD NOT MAKE IT.

[LAUGHTER] BUT THINK I DID.

>> SOME OF THE YOUTH ARE -- SOME OF THE YOUTH COMING INTO OUR CARE DO NOT HAVE THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES, SO THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR THEM.

WALKING EVERY SINGLE DAY, GOING TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY TRYING TO GET A JOB AND NOT BEING ABLE.

WALKING THE STREETS OF THE COMMUNITY AND FEAR THAT THEY MIGHT GO TO SCHOOL AND ONE DAY RETURN AND THEIR PARENTS ARE NOT AT OR KNOWING THAT THEIR PARENTS -- THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THAT UNFORTUNATELY IMMIGRATION GETS INVOLVED.

>> IT IS REALLY HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND STAY WITH THE LOVED ONES THAT THEY DO KNOW.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON’T HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT.

BUT IT IS A REALITY.

>> I SEE YOUNG ADULTS NOW TRYING TO SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN -- ON THEIR OWN AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE MEANS WERE THE WHERE BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL CHILDREN.

HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO SLEEP TOMORROW OR NIGHT.

PARIS: AND DOING SO -- IN DOING SO, CSR IS ALSO CHANGING ATTITUDES.

MENTAL HEALTH HAS LONG BEEN STIGMATIZED OR MISUNDERSTOOD IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BUT EDUCATION AND REPRESENTATION HELP FAMILIES SEE THAT SEEKING SUPPORT IS NOT A FAILURE, IT IS A STEP TOWARD HEALING.

>> THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WORK WITH, THE MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, THERE’S A LOT OF STIGMA AND HESITATION WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH.

BECAUSE OF MAYBE WHAT THEY SEE ON TELEVISION OR THEIR OWN CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.

I COME FROM A HISPANIC BACKGROUND.

MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY OR WAS MINIMIZED AND WAS NOT REALLY UNDERSTOOD -- IT WAS MISUNDERSTOOD.

THE EDUCATION PIECE IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

EDUCATING THE FAMILIES AND NORMALIZING MENTAL HEALTH AND VALIDATING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND NOT BLAMING THEM AGAIN FOR THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY CAN’T CONTROL WHAT IS GOING ON SYSTEMATICALLY.

PARIS: AND THAT SUPPORT IS WHAT MAKES THIS PARTNERSHIP EFFECTIVE.

BEYOND A DEGREE, IT FOSTERS TRUCK, BUILDING COUNSELORS INTO COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

WHAT’S THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> WE ARE A COMMUNITY-BASED -- WE ARE COMMUNITY-BASED.

WE ARE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE BECAUSE WE AS PEOPLE’S LIVED EXPERIENCE IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE ARE PARTNERS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE AREA, JUST BEYOND THE HOUSE OVER THERE IS THE SURELY USE THIS HOUSE -- SHIRLEY EUSTICE HOUSE.

THEY DISCOVERED THERE WERE SLAVE QUARTERS.

WE HAVE LIVING HISTORY RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.

PART OF THE RENOVATION IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSE.

THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT IS THERE, UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY AND ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ARCHITECTURALLY CONNECT THE WALKWAYS THERE SO THEY ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR HISTORY.

WE HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THIS IS THE TRIANGLE, THERE’S A LOT OF HISTORY HERE.

AND THIS AREA HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

YOU KNOW?

PARIS: WHAT PARTS OF THAT TO YOU ALL SORT OF CATCH WITH THE PEOPLE YOU’RE INTERACTING WITH?

>> I THINK WE CATCH IT ALL.

WE SEE IT ALL JUST BEING IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE CATCH PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

AND THAT COULD BE A SPOUSE DIED AND NOW THEY ARE HOMELESS.

A FATHER OR MOTHER TRYING TO KEEP THE FAMILY TOGETHER.

FOOD INSECURITY.

HOUSING AND SECURITY.

AND JUST A -- AND JUST THE STRESS.

I CALL IT THE WEIGHT OF RACISM AND THE WEIGHT OF BEING POOR IN THIS COUNTRY.

THEY SEEK REFUGE HERE AT CSR.

>> WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED A BUILDING, MY THOUGHT WAS, WE ARE PUTTING A STAKE IN THE GROUND IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS BEING GENTRIFIED RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES, BUT SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPENS THAT WHEN PEOPLE RECEIVE OUR SERVICES AND THEY APPRECIATE WHO WE ARE AS AN AGENCY, THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING WITH FAMILIES THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE PUSHED TO THE SUBURBS, THEY STILL COME TO CHURCH HERE AND STILL HAVE FAMILY THAT ARE STILLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEY STILL FIND US.

BECAUSE WE ARE AN INSTITUTION THAT IS DEPENDABLE AND HERE.

THERE’S MANY INSTITUTIONS LIKE THAT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PURCHASE HERE AND NOT LET THIS GO TO TURN INTO CONDOS OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

PARIS: THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "ROOTED."

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS FOR HELPING US DIG DEEPER INTO THE ISSUES SHAPING OUR COMMUNITIES.

YOU CAN CATCH EVERY EPISODE ANYTIME ON THE GBH WEBSITE, YOUTUBE OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

AND DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW US ACROSS ALL SOCIAL PLATFORMS @ROOTEDGBH TO STAY CONNECTED.

STAY ROOTED, STAY HEALTHY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, STAY TUNED.

♪ ♪