Who We Are – IMHNO

IMH’s mission is to promote optimal mental health for children and their families in New Orleans.

IMH believes that mental health must be defined broadly and recognizes that the development of optimal mental health (sometimes referred to as social-emotional development) is affected by many factors.
We believe that it is important to build on successes by promoting best practices and innovative approaches that offer promise.
We believe that issues of race and culture affect mental health and the provision of services and should be addressed.
We believe that our grants should support programs that intentionally and specifically address the social-emotional development of low-income, and/or underserved children and their families in Orleans parish.
We believe that early intervention and prevention are the most effective approaches to promoting optimal mental health in children and their families in our community.
We believe that families are fundamental to their children’s social and emotional development and should be supported in their parenting.

To add mental health services to existing programs that serve children and their families in New Orleans.
To leverage our funds through partnering with other organizations that are interested in adding mental health services to their existing programs.
To help build bridges between providers in low-income communities with universities and other mainstream mental health and child-serving institutions, and to encourage community voices in conversations about mental health.
To build mental health leadership capacity in the community.
To support efforts related to advocacy, infrastructure development and improving the organizational effectiveness of mental health groups in New Orleans.