The Rural Outreach Center’s executive director and founder Dr. Frank Cerny joined other leaders and changemakers from across New York State for the Mother Cabrini Mental Health Summit on Oct. 22 in New York City. Dr. Cerny was featured on the panel Invisible Infrastructure: The Vital Role of Community-Based Organizations, where he and other panelists discussed the systemic challenges that community-based organizations face as they address the complex needs of individuals experiencing mental health disorders.
The ROC was proud to be one of the organizations recognized at the Mother Cabrini Mental Health Summit for its role in addressing the holistic needs of New Yorkers. In describing the Summit, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation says, “New York State stands at a critical crossroads in confronting the intertwined crises of serious mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness. The Summit convened leaders across health, housing, justice, philanthropy, community advocacy and faith-based organizations in a dialogue that aimed to break down systemic barriers and spark cross-sector solutions centered on dignity, recovery and housing stability.”
Dr. Cerny said, “It’s not about mental health in isolation. It’s about well-being that also includes social needs such as housing and food security.” He emphasized that, “Charity does not provide dignity. The ROC Empowerment Model honors each person’s dignity by empowering them to transform their lives.”
During the panel, Dr. Cerny urged fellow panelists, listeners and funders alike to remember that, “We need to think differently about non-profit sustainability. I’m looking at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation when I say this – fund change, systemic change!”
The ROC, located at 730 Olean Road in East Aurora, assists, empowers and elevates the impoverished rural populations in southern Erie County and surrounding areas. The organization’s staff and volunteers serve with compassion, empathy and respect for all people.
For children, The ROC’s goal is to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty by providing counseling, play therapy, educational opportunities and growth experiences. For more information on the good work being done every day by The Rural Outreach Center, please visit http://theroc.co or call (716) 240-2220. You can also follow the organization on Facebook for frequent updates.
