“Dreaming Big’: Fort Worth Nonprofit Unveils Mobile Mental Health Unit
Championing Mental Health in Underserved Communities
In a world where mental wellness can often feel out of reach, one Fort Worth nonprofit is embarking on a mission to bring critical care directly to the neighborhoods that need it most. CHAMP, the Community Healing and Mental Health Project, is unveiling a groundbreaking initiative – a mobile mental health unit that will provide accessible, compassionate support to children and families in some of the city’s most vulnerable areas.
Lachelle Goodrich, CHAMP’s founder and executive director, had a vision that went beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar approach. “I realized there was a gap – we had mobile units for things like cancer screenings, but nothing for mental health,” she explains. “That’s when I knew I had to do something.” Goodrich, a licensed counselor, launched CHAMP in 2019 after the tragic death of Fort Worth resident Atatiana Jefferson, determined to address the urgent need for mental health resources in underserved communities.
The CHAMP Mobile Mental Wellness Unit, unveiled at a recent fundraising event, represents a bold step forward. This state-of-the-art vehicle will bring essential services directly to the Stop Six, Historic Southside, and Las Vegas Trail neighborhoods – areas that have historically faced limited access to mental health support. “We know these communities have limited resources,” Goodrich says. “The goal is to go directly to the people and remove any barriers they might face in getting the care they need.”
Overcoming Barriers to Mental Healthcare
For residents like Antennille Robinson, 47, finding in-person mental health services for her children has been a persistent challenge. “We need somewhere physical, where my children can actually sit down and talk to someone versus it being virtual,” she explains. The CHAMP Mobile Unit aims to address this need, providing a welcoming, community-based space for counseling, group therapy, and educational resources.
CHAMP’s approach goes beyond traditional clinical settings, recognizing the unique challenges faced by these neighborhoods. “As a teenager in Stop Six, there were a lot of violent crimes and we didn’t have therapists. We didn’t even know what mental health was, that wasn’t a word we used,” shares CHAMP board chair Jeremy Strange, who designed the mobile unit’s interior.
The mobile unit will not serve as a crisis response team, but rather as a consistent community partner, arriving within 24-48 hours after incidents that require mental health support. This model allows CHAMP to provide ongoing care and build trust within the neighborhoods it serves.
The Power of Accessible, Community-Driven Care
Mobile health clinics have been a valuable tool for delivering care to underserved populations for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted their importance. By bringing services directly to communities, these units can provide care at a lower cost and greater accessibility, according to Tulane University research.
For CHAMP, the mobile unit represents a unique opportunity to address the complex mental health needs of children and families. In addition to traditional counseling and therapy, the unit will also feature virtual reality equipment aimed at addressing specific mental health concerns. “This will be a place to help with some of these things that are happening,” Strange says. “We are dreaming big.”
Goodrich’s vision for the mobile unit extends beyond just providing clinical services. She hopes it will spark crucial conversations about mental health – a topic that is often stigmatized or overlooked in these communities. “We didn’t even know what mental health was, that wasn’t a word we used,” Strange reflects. “This will be a place to help with some of these things that are happening.”
Cultivating Hope and Resilience
The launch of the CHAMP Mobile Mental Wellness Unit comes at a pivotal time. Exposure to gun violence, a persistent issue in these neighborhoods, can have profound effects on mental health, leading to increased risks of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, according to the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
For Robinson, the mobile unit’s arrival represents a beacon of hope for her family and community. “I’m grateful and excited about the new mobile unit,” she says. “I know it will not only help my Stop Six community, but assist my own family with how to cope through our difficult situations.”
CHAMP’s approach goes beyond simply providing clinical services. The organization is committed to fostering a sense of community, building connections, and empowering individuals to take an active role in their mental health journey. By meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally, CHAMP aims to cultivate resilience and transform lives.
A Vision for a Healthier, More Connected Fort Worth
As the CHAMP Mobile Mental Wellness Unit hits the streets of Fort Worth, it represents a significant step forward in addressing the mental health needs of underserved communities. This innovative initiative not only provides critical care but also serves as a catalyst for open dialogue, reducing stigma, and strengthening the fabric of these neighborhoods.
“This is the vision God gave me,” Goodrich reflects. “I found that you have mobile breast cancer screenings, prostate screenings, but nothing mobile for mental health. I realized this is what I’m going to do.”
Through the CHAMP Mobile Unit, Goodrich and her team are dreaming big, driven by a deep commitment to creating a more equitable, compassionate, and mentally healthy Fort Worth. As the unit hits the road, it carries with it the hopes and dreams of a community that is ready to embrace a brighter, more resilient future.
