FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 2024

Jubilee Healing Farm Launches POEM Program: Peer Support Specialist Training for BIPOC Youth

Hillsborough, NC – Jubilee Healing Farm is excited to announce that applications are now open for POEM (Peer Outdoor Education for Mental Health), an innovative Peer Support Specialist training program exclusively for BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People of Color) college-aged individuals. POEM is designed to address mental health disparities and promote healing through a unique, nature-based curriculum that combines professional training with personal growth.

POEM offers participants a North Carolina certified Peer Support Specialist training course enhanced by workshops on mindfulness, ancestral healing, and ecological awareness. Taught in the inspiring environment of Jubilee Healing Farm, just fifteen minutes from UNC-Chapel Hill, POEM interweaves technical skill development with holistic practices that foster resilience, personal empowerment, and mental well-being.

As part of Jubilee Healing Farm's mission to serve BIPOC communities, POEM (valued at over $600), is offered at no cost to students thanks to grant funding which removes financial barriers and opens the door for young BIPOC individuals to become certified Peer Support Specialists who are ready to serve their communities and contribute to a more diverse, culturally competent mental health workforce.

POEM responds to the urgent mental health needs of BIPOC students, who experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and financial stress compared to their peers. In particular, data from UNC-Chapel Hill shows significant disparities in mental health challenges faced by Black and multiracial students, with 26.4% reporting anxiety and 29.6% reporting depression, compared to 18% and 18.8% respectively for their White peers. These disparities are compounded by challenges unique to BIPOC students, including cultural and identity-related stress, academic pressure, and experiences of discrimination and microaggressions.

To support participants beyond certification, POEM facilitates mentor relationships with BIPOC mental health professionals who guide newly certified Peer Support Specialists as they navigate their career paths. Graduates of the program also stay connected through regular Zoom calls, providing an ongoing community for sharing experiences and supporting one another.

Applications for POEM are being accepted through December 4, 2024. The Spring cohort begins on January 17th with a special workshop led by renowned writer and activist, adrienne maree brown. Interested applicants can learn more and apply at www.jubileehealingfarm.org/poem. The cohort is limited to just 15 participants, so early application is encouraged.

About Jubilee Healing Farm
Located in Hillsborough, NC, Jubilee Healing Farm is dedicated to empowering BIPOC communities through innovative programs that combine mental health education with nature-based healing practices. Through POEM, Jubilee Healing Farm is paving the way for a new generation of Peer Support Specialists equipped to address the unique mental health needs of diverse communities. Jubilee Healing Farm works to foster mental health through a land-based approach and is dedicated to cultivating an intergenerational movement that nurtures human well-being and flourishing.

For press inquiries, please contact:
Kim McNeill, Program Coordinator
admin@jubileehealingfarm.org