Community Solutions

BeWellPBC amplifies the voices of residents to promote change. We know our neighbors hold the key to creating greater belonging and civic muscle by connecting people who have not been represented in the past, leading conversations to change, and co-designing behavioral health solutions.

THEY:

BeWellPBC’s Community Solutions Team touches all aspects of the Simple Rules for Building Civic Muscle and Belonging. They are community members with lived experience creating the change they want to see in Palm Beach County’s behavioral health landscape.

Commit

Community Connectors continue to hold “Couch Conversations,” opening the door to insightful dialogue among diverse groups of residents and system leaders who are exploring behavioral health and wellness, equity, and related topics affecting health. These discussions were broadcast on Facebook Live and turned into podcasts. In October, 11 residents and local faith-based and community leaders along with Commissioner Mack Bernard and Palm Beach County Community Services Department director, James Green, had a hearty discussion about housing and mental health.

Listen

Community Connectors hosted in-person meet-ups – Let’s Connect - in various cities (Lake Worth Beach, Royal Palm) to connect neighbors, to encourage dialogue about mental health and local resources, and to get feedback from more residents.

Innovate

A Peer Leadership Council was proposed as an opportunity for peers (individuals who have lived with mental health challenges and are uniquely positioned to support others) to serve in an advisory role for local policy and practice. In 2022, peer leads presented at Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network’s CQI meeting to share information about the Council and invite peers across providers and programs to join. Group leaders also held a barbecue later in the year to invite potential participants to learn more about the council and begin building membership.

Share

The Caregivers Club, in partnership with Healthier Boynton Beach, is a resident-led group that continues to plan fun events for caregivers across the county—a group that often feels isolated and alone. During 2022, the Club invited caregivers to activities like Painting with a Twist (painting class) and a ladies luncheon.

Connect

Students Connect, the student-led BeWell Club, took the behavioral health training they developed in 2021 and began offering it in the community. In partnership with Alpert Jewish Family Service and Palm Health Foundation, BeWellPBC received two OD2A grants from the Health Council of Southeast Florida to continue to work with a small team of youth trainers to offer "Mental Health for You(th)" workshops to teen groups throughout the county. In October, the youth were invited to present at the PBC Behavioral Health Coalition Stronger Together Now Youth Summit.