WINTER 2021 NEWSLETTER

April is Diversity Month!  There is so much to celebrate and share but for the sake of this month’s message, I would like to acknowledge Autism Awareness Month and the general meaning of what Diversity Month could mean to you and our communities.

I ask that, with intention, we take time to recognize the diversity in our workplace and the communities we live in. By celebrating cultures that are different from our own, we can gain a greater appreciation for diversity that surrounds us and truly see the diverse talents we all possess. 

I’d like to give you some ideas:

• Movie night:
  -  Watch a foreign film and grab dinner or a snack that is representative of the culture.-
  -   An absolute treasure chest of movies and documentaries from directors and actors all over the world.      https://www.digitaliafilmlibrary.com/
• Sit in front of a map of the world and with your eyes closed, point, and listen to the music of the country you land on. 
  - Check out new music with Spotify and Chicago based streaming radio station https://vocalo.org/
• Support minority owned businesses.
  - A directory of local minority owned businesses in Chicago https://smallprojectchicago.com/

On the topic of acknowledging each other’s diverse talents, April is Autism Awareness Month.  Let’s continue to build an inclusive society and instead of “celebrating”, perhaps invite your  co-worker, family member, friend who lives with autism to a social distancing activity.  Smile at the cashier or barista who you know is struggling to make eye contact.  The best way we can promote more empathy and compassion for each other is to be proactive.  Kindness is contagious!

“If you’ve met one individual with autism, you’ve met one individual with autism” – Stephen Shore

"NIEAPA members shall seek to develop an awareness of their own personal and cultural values and beliefs as one way of appreciating the importance of multicultural identities in our own lives and in the lives of those we serve.  NIEAPA members shall have and continue to develop specialized knowledge and understanding about the values, traditions and systems of all employees at the workplaces they serve."

  RESOURCE DIRECTORY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

The Resource Directory is a central source of services that fall under the EAP umbrella and is a great tool for all.  We encourage you to use and share with your colleagues.

Please use the Resource Directory if you are looking for up to date information on treatment centers' recent changes, additions or reduction of services. The link also provides contact information for each center's outreach professional.

This list has been provided by the Chicagoland Professional Liaison Association, which is an organization for outreach professionals in the behavioral health field working in the Greater Chicagoland area. We thank the group for sharing this information with their NIEAPA colleagues.