Greetings,
My name is Maisha Kenyatta, and I am the Executive Director of Positive Images, Inc.
Positive Images, Inc. was founded to assist adults, primarily women, in their recovery from substance use disorders. Since our inception in 1979, we have served more than 18,000 individuals and provided support services to their children and families.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the disparity in behavioral and medical health care provided to low-income residents of Detroit. According to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the following are listed as the primary barriers:
- Lack of availability.
- Transportation
- Child care,
- Difficulty taking time off work.
- The belief that mental health treatment “doesn’t work”.
- The high level of mental health stigma in minority populations.
- A mental health system weighted heavily towards non-minority values and norms.
- Racism, bias, and discrimination in treatment settings.
- Language barriers and an insufficient number of providers who speak languages other than English.
- Lack of adequate health insurance coverage (and even for people with insurance, cost-sharing makes it difficult to afford).
Furthermore, Positive Images, Inc. has experienced major cuts in our grant funding sources due to the pandemic. This has resulted in decreasing our ability to serve low-income residents of the community. This critical need has inspired Positive Images, Inc. to make a commitment to expand its current services and create the Positive Images Inc. Behavioral Health Clinic. The facility will have the capacity to serve and accommodate more than 6000 office visits annually and include a reception and waiting area, exam rooms, physician and counseling offices.
It is our goal to provide person-centered, multidisciplinary, evidence-based screening, assessment, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention services. In essence, we plan to provide mental, medical, physical, and spiritual healthcare all in one convenient and family-friendly location. We would not be able to serve the community without the kindness and generosity of people like you.
Please consider helping us to reach our goal by making a donation or becoming a sponsor of our behavioral healthcare clinic. All sponsors will have their names and/or logos displayed on our website.
To make a secured online donation, please visit http://www.positiveimageinc.org/advocacy-groups-donate.
If you prefer to donate by check, please make your check payable to Positive Images Inc.
Mail to: Positive Images, Inc.
Attn. Maisha Kenyatta
If you have any questions about our organization or if you would like to support us in another way, please do not hesitate to contact Yolanda Venable at 313-822-1135 ext. 107 or 313-402-9267.
We look forward to building a relationship with you as we continue to serve our community!
Sincerely,
Maisha Kenyatta, LMSW, CAADC Executive Director