Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

The DBHIDS Community Affairs Unit works to ensure that all Philadelphians have access to wellness, recovery, and peer-support services in their own communities.

Community Affairs Units’ efforts to  increase access to services and enhance the behavioral health and well-being of all Philadelphians is accomplished via:

• Community Outreach and Engagement Unit: COE develops partnerships, strategies, and resources to bring awareness to the importance of emotional wellness in keeping with the principles of DBHIDS’ population health approach. Initiatives include Faith and Spiritual Affairs and Mural Arts / Porch Light. 
• Community Wellness Engagement Unit: CWEU’s multilingual engagement team providing greater access to wellness-related resources and support for all communities.
• Peer Culture and Community Inclusion Unit: PCCI actively engages, supports, and models the promotion of hope, wellness, and empowerment throughout the behavioral health system of Philadelphia and beyond.
• Engaging Males of Color Initiative: EMOC is a targeted initiative designed to address the impact of health, economic, and educational disparities experienced by males of color. The DBHIDS EMOC Committee is made up of a culturally diverse group of men (African-American, African, Asian, Caribbean, Latino) of all ages working in collaboration with community members, academic advisers, and system partners to achieve its vision and mission.
• Engaging Women and Girls of Color Initiative: EWGOC is a community-driven platform that uplifts the voices of women and girls of color, including trans individuals, to lead conversations and shape solutions around their well-being. Designed for ages 10 and up, the initiative empowers participants to share their stories, address disparities, and thrive.