Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The FACTS Initiative
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 229 South Brevard ST
City: Charlotte
State: North Carolina
Postal Code: 28202
Main Phone: 7042689642
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.thefactsinitiative.org
Employer ID Number: 83-1240388
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/29/2025
Requested Amount: 7,500

Project Title: Community-based Mental Healthcare for Underserved Children and Families
Project Description:

The FACTS Initiative provides trauma-focused, evidence-based mental health therapy for children and families in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Our target population includes at-risk youth aged 4 to 25 who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, as well as families facing extreme hardship or crisis situations. We specialize in serving those who face significant barriers to accessing quality mental health care, including financial constraints, lack of insurance coverage, cultural stigma surrounding mental health, limited transportation options, and unstable housing situations.

Our two full-time mental health therapists, Aisha Yesher-El and Gwen Harris, provide affordable, evidence-based, trauma-focused mental health therapy to our clients. Both are licensed mental health clinicians with certificates in TF-CBT, Parenting Skills Training (PPP), and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. We offer a variety of mental health services for our clients, including clinical assessments (CCA), individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, and Triple P Positive Parenting support. All of these evidence-based interventions have been shown to effectively reduce trauma responses and symptoms, paving the way for healthier futures for both children and their families.

The requested funding will go towards our Community Partnership Program, which brings our high-quality mental health services directly into the heart of marginalized communities and those vulnerable children and families who need help the most. Through our partnerships, we pair high-quality mental health care with services that address immediate needs such as housing, food security, and education. This integrated approach allows us to provide trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies to children and families who might otherwise lack access due to financial or logistical barriers. We deliver our services directly on-site for our partners, thus removing transportation barriers and increasing accessibility. Our services address the root cause of mental health issues while simultaneously supporting families in stabilizing their immediate environment. Thus, by combining our expertise in trauma-informed care with the resources of our community partners, we create a comprehensive support system that addresses both immediate needs and long-term mental health care, ultimately fostering healthier, more resilient families and communities in Mecklenburg County.

Total Project Budget: 177,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: Reemprise Fund, EnergyUnited Foundation, American Psychological Association Foundation; Potential: Bank of America Foundation, Healthy Charlotte Alliance, First Horizon Foundation

Project Duration: ongoing
Geographical Area Served: Charlotte- Mecklenburg County, NC
Age Group To Be Served: 4-25 and caregivers

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms
Contact First Name: Gwendolyn
Contact Last Name: Harris
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 7042689642
Contact Email: funding@thefactsinitiative.org