Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center

Grassroots needs you! With your help, we provide 24-hour support to individuals & families with a mental health, substance use or homelessness crisis. If you or your group want to get involved with Grassroots, there are many ways. DONATE ITEMS - We collect non-perishable food & hygiene items at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia. We also accept food & select clothing items at the Day Resource Center at 10390 Guilford Road, Suite A in Jessup. MAKE A MEAL - Help by preparing a fully cooked meal or entrée. Sign up at bit.ly/GrassrootsMeals. VOLUNTEER - Help individuals at our emergency shelter, crisis center & Day Resource Center. Visit https://lnkd.in/dsruTiXx. MAKE LUNCHES - Making bag lunches & lunch kits is a great donation & volunteer activity for your group. PROVIDE HOUSEWARMING GIFTS - Grassroots provides starter kits of household items for shelter residents who are moving into their new homes. DONATE MONEY - You can make a donation at https://lnkd.in/dzXB3pCD or send a check to 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD, 21044. For more information on donation and volunteer opportunities, please email info@grassrootscrisis.org or call 410-531-6006.

Grassroots is so excited to announce that we have been awarded $430,000 in grant funding from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) to expand our Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (OMHC) services, providing free mental health care to individuals of any age throughout Central Maryland. Since November 2023, Grassroots’ OMHC has provided open access to free, in-person therapy and medication management appointments within 24 to 48 hours to consumers who come to Grassroots with a mental health or substance use disorder concern and who face a barrier to mental health treatment. A barrier can be lack of insurance or access to affordable mental health care, extended wait times for an appointment, trouble finding an available provider, or technological restrictions associated with telehealth. This open access to free mental/behavioral health care allows individuals to get help before a more serious crisis can occur. For example, if someone experiences a lapse in their psychiatric medication due to homelessness or lack of insurance, the sooner they resume their medication, the less likely they are to experience mental health crisis. Waiting 30-90 days for an appointment when help is needed today could contribute to a worsening of symptoms, acute crisis or disengagement from help-seeking altogether. We are here to help individuals within 24 to 48 hours! Individuals can access our services by calling our crisis line at 410-531-6677 or by walking in to our crisis center at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia. In addition, we support individuals in the community who are experiencing acute psychiatric crises through the Mobile Crisis Team. #centralmaryland #StartingTherapy #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #marylandcrisisservices #marylandmentalhealth #counseling #therapy #crisissupport #freecounseling #grantfunding

Grassroots is so excited to be the new home of local artist Stan Wencour's amazing work! The Grassroots crisis center was chosen as the location Stan's art through the program, Art Connection in the Capital Region (ACCR). ACCR is a nonprofit established in 2004 to enrich lives by making original artwork available to underserved communities throughout Baltimore and Washington, DC. Through an innovative art donation and placement program, ACCR partners with community nonprofits like Grassroots to help transform their public areas into inspiring, nurturing spaces. The artwork, generously donated by artists and collectors, is permanently gifted to the nonprofits and serves as a catalyst to encourage dialogue among clients, their families and the service providers. Grassroots was gifted several of Stan's pieces, which we are proudly displaying in areas like our lobby, counseling rooms and public hallways that clients travel to connect to services within our building. A Columbia local, Stan is a social worker with a PhD from the School of Social Welfare, University of California-Berkeley. His interests have been with fighting for social justice and for social services that help disadvantaged, abused and oppressed people. He retired in 2000 to pursue his other passion, painting. As an abstract painter he is interested in exploring the use of paint, fabrics and other materials with differing textures and light-reflecting qualities to capture the sometimes fleeting, visual and mental images that people experience as well as their feelings and emotional struggles. From Julie Cavnor, ACCR Executive Director: "Artwork possesses an incredible power to transform lives. I am honored to collaborate with talented artists and generous collectors in support of ACCR's mission. Additionally, I am deeply grateful for the invaluable support from our community nonprofits. Thank you for realizing the positive and far-reaching impact original artwork can have, and for working in partnership to inspire and enrich.” Thank you so much to Stan and Julie (pictured slide 7) for their support of Grassroots and their beautiful and meaningful donation to our crisis center! #marylandmentalhealth #marylandfamilies #mentalhealthmatters #communitysupportingcommunity #artinthecommunity #artconnection #localartist #arttherapy #weloveourdonors #communityimpact

Today is International Self Care Day, a reminder of the importance of self care and the benefits that it can have on our lives. Self care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. This can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness and increase your energy. Even small acts of self care in your daily life can have a big impact. Asking for help can be a critical part of self care. Grassroots is here for you with free, 24-hour support via our hotline (410-531-6677), 988 (phone, chat or text) or walk-in counseling at our location at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia. We provide free, 24-hour crisis intervention, mental health, substance use disorder, housing support, suicide prevention and other services and resources. Individuals can receive phone, chat/text, walk-in or Mobile Crisis Team support with a variety of situations, including: psychiatric crises like depression, isolation, anxiety or suicidal ideation; drug use or withdrawal; homelessness or housing insecurity; access to necessary assistance like food and hygiene items; connection to resources or treatment, and more. We are here to help you! #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #marylandcrisisservices #marylandmentalhealth #wellnesswednesday #selfcare #internationalselfcareday #selfcarematters

Grassroots feels so fortunate to provide support to those in the community who contact or walk in to our crisis center in need of mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, housing or other support. Through our FY24 Impact Survey, 96% of respondents let us know that after their call or visit they felt that progress was made toward resolving their crisis. This is due to the high level of services that are provided by our amazing crisis counselors in conjunction with our many wonderful partners throughout Howard County and beyond. We are so grateful to the community for trusting Grassroots to provide necessary support. Grassroots is here for you with free, 24-hour support via our hotline (410-531-6677), 988 (phone, chat or text) or walk-in counseling at our location at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia. We provide free, 24-hour crisis intervention, mental health, substance use disorder, housing support, suicide prevention and other services and resources. Individuals can receive phone, chat/text, walk-in or Mobile Crisis Team support with a variety of situations, including: psychiatric crises like depression, isolation, anxiety or suicidal ideation; drug use or withdrawal; homelessness or housing insecurity; access to necessary assistance like food and hygiene items; connection to resources or treatment, and more. We are here to help you! #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthmatters #marylandcrisisservices #marylandmentalhealth #suicideprevention #crisissupport #youmatter #communityimpact #goodnewstues

Thank you so much to the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County! Last week, many of their amazing donors joined together through their Emergency Response Network to raise more than $2,000 for a single mother staying at the Grassroots emergency shelter. Their amazing support has helped a single mother of a teenage daughter who is staying at the Grassroots emergency shelter, pay for unexpected repairs for her car, which she needs in order to continue to get to her job each day. This donation has helped her get back on her feet as she continues to do an amazing job to complete the steps she needs to take to achieve permanent and stable housing. Thank you so much, Women's Giving Circle! #emergencyshelter #donations #crisissupport #communitysupport #communitygiving #experiencinghomelessness #communityimpact #weloveourdonors

#ThrowbackThursday In May, Grassroots opened our new Children’s Counseling Room thanks to the amazing Girl Scouts from Troop 1508. These wonderful ladies approached Grassroots in order to help our agency while they completed their Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. We very much needed a child-friendly counseling room to provide comfort to kids who visit Grassroots for mental health support or while their families seek housing or related assistance. County Councilwoman Christiana Mercer Rigby joined our ribbon cutting! The girls developed everything about the new room from top to bottom, scoping out the project, planning, designing, painting, creating and managing all the facets, as well as gathering all the fun items like books, toys and furniture. They used their cookie sales money, while also working with a private donor who graciously supported this effort. In total, the girls and their parents devoted 368 hours to this fantastic resource for our young clients and families. They brought their hearts and love to this project, which can be felt the moment you walk through the door! It’s been such a comforting space for the children and families who visit the Grassroots crisis center. We really appreciate Caroline, Dior, Emma, Gabriella, Katelyn, Makenzie, Dara, Payton, Samantha, Zamora and troop leader Laura! #communitysupport #marylandmentalhealth #marylandfamilies #volunteers #girlscouts #bronzeaward #weloveourvolunteers #scoutsvolunteer #marylandscouts #communitysupportingcommunity #throwbackthursday #tbt

Extreme Temperatures are expected today, Tuesday, 7/16. The Grassroots Day Resource Center will be open to serve as a Cooling Center. You can visit the Day Resource Center today from 12-6 p.m. at 10390 Guildford Rd, Ste A in Jessup. Individuals who are in need of other housing resources can contact Grassroots anytime via our free, 24-hour hotline at 410-531-6677 or walk in to our Crisis Center 24 hours a day at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia. Other cooling centers can be found by calling 2-1-1. #emergencyshelter #crisissupport #communitysupport #homelessness #experiencinghomelessness #communityimpact #coolingcenter #heatemergencies #marylandsummer

Today marks the second anniversary of 988, the free, national three-digit number to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline! Grassroots provides support to those who call, text and chat 988 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Individuals can contact 988 directly by phone, through text or by connecting through various websites. Grassroots counselors answer calls, chats and texts from individuals in Howard County and the state of Maryland. In addition, we answer chats and texts from all 50 states and U.S. territories. People contact 988 for a variety of reasons, including loneliness, anxiety/depression, relationship/family problems, financial issues, substance use, mental and physical illness, thoughts of suicide and more. Grassroots started answering 988 when the number launched in 2022. Since 988 launched nationally, it has received and routed over 10 million calls, texts and chats to crisis centers like Grassroots. Please reach out to 988 anytime you feel like you need help or someone to provide a listening ear or valuable resources. You can also contact Grassroots by phone at 410-531-6677 or walk in to our crisis center for free, 24 hours a day at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia. We are here to help! Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Vibrant Emotional Health #crisiscenter #crisisservices #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #marylandmentalhealth #savealife #counseling #itsoktoaskforhelp #freecounseling #suicideprevention #suicideawareness #wearehere

Grassroots is here for you with free, 24-hour support via our hotline (410-531-6677), 988 (phone, chat or text) or walk-in counseling at our location at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia! We provide free, 24-hour crisis intervention, mental health, substance use disorder, housing support, suicide prevention and other services and resources. Individuals can receive phone, walk-in or Mobile Crisis Team support with a variety of situations, including: psychiatric crises like depression, isolation, anxiety or suicidal ideation; drug use or withdrawal; homelessness or housing insecurity; access to necessary assistance like food and hygiene items; connection to resources or treatment, and more. You can also reach out to us because you feel lonely, anxious, depressed or even suicidal. You may just need a listening ear. We are here to help you! #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #marylandcrisisservices #marylandmentalhealth #suicideprevention #counseling #therapy #crisissupport