To kick off Black History Month, a local event sheds light on mental health from the perspective of the African American community. Every February, Integral Care hosts the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference (CTAAFSC) to share mental health information and resources as well as build a community of support.

This year’s conference will take place Feb. 7-8 at the Palmer Events Center. The keynote speakers are Dr. Rheeda Walker, Professor of Psychology and Licensed Clinical Psychologist at the University of Houston, and Thabiti Boone, Former Obama White House Fatherhood Initiative Representative and New York Knicks Community Liaison.

Sessions will cover topics such as stigma around mental health in the African American community, health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and systemic barriers facing African American youth and their parents. Click here to view the schedule of events.

Established over 20 years ago, CTAAFSC was the first conference in Texas and only the third in the United States to focus on the healthcare needs of African Americans. The conference was born from a desire to confront the systems and cultural bias that have resulted in African Americans facing barriers to healthcare access.