Accomplishments Fiscal Year 22/23
Voice and Vision is honored to have impacted the lives of thousands of people in Fiscal Year 22/23 through all our programs, a podcast, Help and Hope Guide, and social media. The impact was accomplished through the work of wonderful employees, board members, volunteers, consultants, partners, funders, and donors. Thank you to everyone who makes our work a success! Let’s celebrate each other as we move into Fiscal Year 23/24.
Here are a few of the highlights from fiscal year 22/23:
- Voice and Vision teams interviewed over 1800 people about their experiences with mental health, substance use, and/or intellectual disability services. Many of these interviews were done in person. We are so grateful to once again be able to meet, see, and hear individuals and families face-to-face at provider sites and/or in people’s homes.
- As a follow-up to the interviews, Voice and Vision submitted more than 50 reports showing the data and recommendations for change in mental health and/or substance use services. Considerations on behalf of 139 people with intellectual/developmental disabilities were submitted also.
- Season One of the Untold Valor Podcast was created to honor and support veterans’ mental health and wellness. At fiscal year-end, 20 episodes found on our website and all major podcast platforms offered veterans’ stories of recovery and hope and resources to help veterans and their families through the challenges of returning to civilian life. Data showed 670 downloads of the podcast from February through May 2023. One of the veterans who participated said, “This experience has been life-changing.”
- Through the same Veterans Trust Fund Grant from the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs that supported Season One of Untold Valor, we were able to start Season Two in June 2023. We will offer 24 episodes in FY 23/24.
- Through a partnership with the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania, Voice and Vision released The Purpose and Meaning in Military Service Webinar on Memorial Day to honor all fallen soldiers and to support veterans because everyone who served put their life on the line for us and our nation. At least 59 people reviewed all or part of the webinar soon after it was offered.
- College Plus and TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) supported 26 students in the fall and spring semesters. It is wonderful to see students continuing each semester toward achieving their college degrees and fulfilling their career goals.
- Family Roadmap Workshops offered 25 parents of children with special needs a Step-by-Step process that helps them navigate the education, insurance, and behavioral health systems.
- Help and Hope: From Families Who Have Walked the Walk continued to be distributed throughout the region both in hard copy and through over 7,750 views on our website in fiscal year 22/23.
- Voice and Vision’s 25th anniversary was celebrated by inviting current staff and board members and previous board members and leaders to a luncheon to honor and celebrate each other and to conduct a strategic planning activity to determine Voice and Vision’s next areas of expansion.
- The updated strategic plan includes our new mission and vision statements. To read both, please click here.
Voice and Vision looks forward to working with you in Fiscal Year 23/24 as we offer support and help to our peers experiencing challenges with mental health, substance use, and disabilities to thrive and live fulfilling lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website shows more than one in five adults live with a mental health challenge, and over one in five teens (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point have had a seriously debilitating mental health challenge. In 2022, close to 50,000 people died by suicide, and 105,258 died by an overdose. We all have a lot of work to do. Thank you for joining us in this important work.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
Photo by Guille Álvarez via Unsplash
