Redefining Healthcare for Minority Populations

When considering health care, mental health care is often considered secondary to somatic health care. Mental health outcomes for vulnerable populations in the U.S. are dire. A combination of oppressive forces is constantly at play; creating and reinforcing a vicious cycle that makes mental and behavioral health resources inaccessible for thousands living in urban communities.

The global pandemic has only exacerbated the existing health inequities, hitting urban and/or impoverished areas the hardest. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), “long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put many people from racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.”

Overall, unemployment rates in the U.S. rose faster due to COVID-19 than they did as a result of the Great Recession (Kochaar, 2020). However, unemployment rates for Black and other minority groups were still disproportionately higher than they were for other racial groups at the onset of the pandemic (Williams, 2020). Therefore, it is critical that there exists a culturally-competent resource hub which at-risk populations can tap into for professional or career advice, as well as for help working through the mental health challenges that can accompany and/or cause unemployment, joblessness, or homelessness.

The stark need for culturally-informed health care services in urban communities is what led Floyd Taliaferro, IV, to found and lead All Walks of Life, a Maryland-based health clinic specializing in behavioral health for urban communities.

Together with a stellar executive team and dedicated mental and behavioral health professionals, All Walks of Life focuses on providing support through Village-Centered Treatment (VCT™).

Derived from the adage “It takes a village to raise a child,” VCT™ encompasses a community-based approach that involves the delivery of culturally-relevant care that is informed by cultural values and beliefs, spirituality, unique familial structures, and individual and community influenced behaviors.

CEO Snapshot: Floyd Taliaferro, IV

In 2020, Floyd Taliaferro, IV was named a Most Admired CEO award by the Maryland Daily Record, a leading outlet for business, legal, and government laws, for his leadership and commitment to improving health outcomes for minorities at All Walks of Life.

For Floyd Taliaferro, IV, the work is not done when he leaves the office. He shares the personal steps he takes to reach out to folks in the Maryland community, which include providing “direct services to at least 10 young folks and families, many of whom come from low-income and minority backgrounds and who don’t have access to a business leader or employer they can look up to.”

To follow Floyd Taliaferro, IV and his team on their inspirational journey, or to access mental and behavioral health resources for yourself or a loved one, call or write to All Walks of Life.

References

Kochaar, R. (2020, June 11). Unemployment rose higher in three months of COVID-19 than it did in two years of the Great Recession. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/11/unemployment-rose-higher-in-three-months-of-covid-19-than-it-did-in-two-years-of-the-great-recession/
Williams, J. (2020, September 29). Laid Off More, Hired Less: Black Workers in the COVID-19 Recession. Rand Corporation. https://www.rand.org/blog/2020/09/laid-off-more-hired-less-black-workers-in-the-covid.html
(2021, February 12). Health Equity Considerations and Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/race-ethnicity.html
(n.d.) Floyd Taliaferro IV, President & CEO, All Walks of Life. The Daily Record. https://thedailyrecord.com/2020/11/03/floyd-taliaferro-iv/