The Initiative

Mental health is shaped by more than individual experiences. It is also impacted by racism, ableism, discrimination, violence, and barriers to care.

During National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize that survivors from historically marginalized communities often face additional obstacles when seeking safety, healing, and support.

Everyone deserves access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care where they are believed, respected, and supported.

Healing is stronger when it is accessible, equitable, and inclusive. 💜

Today is International Self-Care Awareness Day. We are sharing the different ways our team practices self-care, while acknowledging that for survivors, self-care often looks different.

Trauma-informed self-care might look like:
💜 Setting boundaries without apologizing.
💜 Saying “no” when something doesn’t feel right.
💜 Resting without feeling like you have to earn it.
💜 Taking breaks when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
💜 Spending time with people who help you feel safe.
💜 Nourishing your body, moving in ways that feel good, or taking a few deep breaths.

We hope it inspires you to find what supports your own well-being.

How can you help prevent sexual violence against LGBTQIA+ youth?

It starts by recognizing who is too often left out of prevention efforts.

At The Initiative, our prevention coalition focuses on LGBTQIA+ youth and youth with disabilities—communities that face higher rates of sexual violence due to stigma, discrimination, and barriers to support. We believe prevention should be inclusive, accessible, and designed with everyone in mind.

If you’re passionate about this mission we’d love to connect. Reach out to [email protected] to learn more about joining our prevention coalition. 🏳️‍🌈💜

On Helen Keller Day, we honor a legacy that challenged the way society views disability. Helen Keller dedicated her life to advocating for a more accessible and equitable world. Her work reminds us that disability is not something to overcome—barriers, stigma, and inaccessibility are.

At The Initiative, that belief is at the heart of our work. We know that survivors with disabilities face unique barriers to safety, healing, and justice. That's why we're committed to creating accessible, trauma-informed services that remove barriers, and help build communities where everyone can thrive.

Connection is an important part of caring for our mental health. 💜

This week, some of The Initiative team had the opportunity to come together for team building. While we work remotely most of the time, making space to connect helps strengthen our relationships, reduce stress, and build the sense of community that allows us to better support survivors every day.

A strong team helps create stronger support for those we serve.

PTSD affects millions of people, including many survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other forms of abuse. During PTSD Awareness Month, we recognize the lasting impacts trauma can have on survivors and reaffirm our commitment to providing compassionate, trauma-informed, and disability-centered support.

Every survivor’s healing journey is unique, and everyone deserves access to safety, support, and understanding. 💜

This Pride Month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities. 🌈

At The Initiative, we recognize that LGBTQIA+ individuals experience abuse, violence, and discrimination at disproportionately high rates and often face additional barriers when seeking support.

Everyone deserves to live free from abuse and have access to services that are safe, affirming, and accessible. We are committed to supporting LGBTQIA+ survivors with compassion, dignity, and respect—not just during Pride Month, but every day of the year.

You belong. You deserve safety. You deserve support. 💜

Pride2026

Meet our new Victim Advocate Intern, Sara! ✨

Sara is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in clinical trauma-informed practice. She is passionate about addressing the intersection of disability, violence, and trauma through advocacy and survivor-centered support.

As someone who has experienced interpersonal violence and lives with a physical disability, she understands the importance of creating spaces where all people feel seen, valued, and supported. During their time at The Initiative, they hope to be a safe and trusted resource for survivors while gaining the knowledge and experience needed to continue advocating for disability-inclusive services and systems in their future career.

We’re excited to have Sara on our team! 💜

Abuse and mental health are deeply connected. Survivors deserve trauma-informed, accessible support that recognizes the lasting impact of trauma and centers safety, dignity, and healing. 💜