Local leaders gathered outside the First Baptist Church on Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst over the weekend to officially launch their new Hope and Grace Mental Health Wellness Center.
The new center, opened and operated in partnership with Northwell Health, will give local residents access to free mental health services. Brief behavioral therapy sessions rooted in evidence-based interactions will be available by appointment and at no charge.
Officials at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday expressed hope that partnerships between faith organizations and health institutions can combat the mental health crisis, especially when it comes to building trust among those doubtful of the benefits of services like talk therapy.
“We’re facing a crisis in terms of mental health in our community and in our country. The Hope and Grace Center is an amazing development in terms of trying to situate mental health care in a setting where there is trust, so hopefully, the stigma will be less, and the comfort will be even greater,” said Dr. John Young, SVP of Behavioral Health at Northwell.
Individuals aged eight and up, including older adults 65 and older, can schedule one-on-one care at the new space. If additional services are needed, staff at the center will be able to provide referrals and care management coordination.
The new wellness center will be led by Dr. Edgar Hobbs Jr., a cultural psychologist with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. As a licensed mental health counselor, he is also trained in crisis intervention and has delivered seminars for the church in the past on topics such as domestic violence.
“The center will not only be a safe space, free of charge, for youth, families and older neighbors to access right here in their neighborhood, but it will also serve as an example of how faith-based communities can partner with health institutions,” said Rev. Patrick Young of First Baptist Church.
The initiative builds on the church’s mission to serve the East Elmhurst community with free resources and guidance. Members of the First Baptist Church say that it has been a source of respite for the community long before and during the pandemic when people leaned on their community organizations more.
Following remarks from officials, they gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a performance by Leelanee Sterrett of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Assemblymember-elect Larinda Hooks, who won a highly contested Democratic primary race to represent Assembly District 35, was in attendance. She shared that her daughter benefitted from another mental health program at the center over the summer.
“This coming to our community is such a wonderful thing for our youth. This will be just the beginning of something great for this community,” said Hooks.
The First Baptist Church also has a weekly food pantry on Saturdays, clothing distributions, back-to-school giveaways and vaccine clinics throughout the year.
