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2 <br />encouraged Council to consider funding training, education and mental health care for <br />transgender and gender non-conforming residents. <br /> Ms. Karen Osterhaus, Director of Research and Grants at Region Ten, spoke about health and equity assessments. <br />Ms. Molly Yates, Director of Integrated Care at Region Ten, spoke about integrated care <br />approaches. Ms. Osterhaus returned to speak about the nationwide shortage of psychiatrists/prescribers. <br /> <br />Ms. Anna Mendez, Executive Director of Partner for Mental Health, spoke about peer navigation and support. She was joined by Ms. Cyndi Richardson who described the On Our Own peer support program. Ms. Mendez expressed her appreciation for Council’s interest in mental health issues. <br /> <br />Ms. Deirdre Creasy, Community-Bases Support Services at Region Ten, described the Community Based Recovery Support Services program she manages in seven public housing communities and Friendship Court. <br />Ms. Myra Anderson spoke about her personal experience with mental illness and stigma <br />reduction as a person of color. She said there is a greater stigma in the African-American community related to mental illness and as a result they are less likely to seek help. She called for a change in perceptions, a focus on mental wellness (as opposed to illness) and for more culturally competent care. She called for the restoration of a Sankofa Center at Region Ten, <br /> <br />Ms. Susan Morrow, the Drug Court Coordinator and coordinator for the Therapeutic Docket, and Ms. Ashley Bowles, Therapeutic Docket specialist at Offender Aid and Restoration, described the goals of the Therapeutic Docket, a court-administered behavioral health treatment program. <br /> <br />Dr. Denise Bonds, Health Director for the Thomas Jefferson Health District, spoke about Harm Reduction Approaches which include the provision of sterile syringes and disposal of syringes. The City of Charlottesville does not qualify for a Harm Reduction program that includes a needle exchange because of our low rate of opioid overdose deaths. Dr. Bonds <br />described other Harm Reduction efforts taking place in the community. She said, for example, <br />Narcan overdose recovery medication is available for free at the health department. Ms. Hill thanked all the speakers. She asked how the different groups work together as partners to meet the needs of the community? Ms. Dimock responded and noted that while it <br />may appear some organizations are doing similar work, some do it with a different cultural focus <br />that makes the overlap desirable. She said the organizational equity assessments were playing an important role in the collection of this data.