Mary Ellen Strong Foundation

The Mary Ellen Strong Foundation (MESF) is a nonprofit organization that runs a searchable directory of Black mental health providers while simultaneously supporting the therapists themselves through scholarships, mentorship programs, and wellness initiatives. The foundation's stated mission is to "strengthen the spirit, the mind, the family and the community by providing mental health services to vulnerable, underserved communities" and to "promote mental health in underserved communities." The organization was founded by Dr. Stacey Jones, a licensed psychologist with over twenty years of experience in the mental health field, and is named in honor of Mary Ellen Strong, a marketing expert, political consultant, and advisor to U.S. presidents and corporate leaders who was deeply committed to serving the Black community.

The directory

MESF's primary public offering is the Directory of Black Therapists. This is a free searchable database organized by state where people can find Black mental health providers. The directory lists therapists' names, credentials, contact information, office addresses and phone numbers, and affiliated organizations. Credentials shown in the directory include PhD, PsyD, MD, MSW, LICSW, LMFT, LPCC, LPC, and other licensure levels. The foundation is explicit about the nature of the directory: "The Directory of Black Psychotherapists is a resource. The Mary Ellen Strong Foundation does not endorse and is not liable for services rendered by providers listed."

The directory covers multiple states. The captured pages show extensive provider listings for Minnesota; the directory appears to be national in scope or at least multi-state, though the foundation's focus areas for direct programming are Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Support for mental health professionals

Beyond connecting people to therapists, MESF runs programs specifically designed to support mental health professionals themselves. The Mental Health Professional Development Program is the cornerstone offering. This program provides scholarship and mentorship opportunities for graduate students interested in mental health careers, along with "growth opportunities." The foundation aims to "increase the number of licensed mental health providers who are dedicated to meeting the needs of underserved communities" through this innovative programming. This reflects a recognition that supply of Black mental health providers is the root constraint: people from underserved communities cannot find culturally matched providers if those providers do not exist. The program addresses the pipeline.

The foundation also runs wellness retreats specifically designed for mental health professionals working in underserved communities. These retreats are explicitly framed as tools to "reduce/prevent compassion fatigue and burnout." The foundation's materials note that career longevity in work with underserved communities requires intentional support. The retreats are one mechanism to provide that support to the therapists who serve these communities.

Governance and expertise

The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors and informed by an Advisory Board. The Board of Directors currently includes five members: Carolyn Wright (Co-Chair), Celeste Osgood (Co-Chair), Kelly Heath (Treasurer), Mary Ellen Jones (Secretary), and Sheryl Climenhaga (Member). The Board formally meets at least once a year and in between meetings as needed to conduct the foundation's business. The board is responsible for shaping the foundation's direction through its mission, strategy, budget, and key policies, and for ensuring that leadership, resources, and finances match the foundation's vision.

The Advisory Board comprises mental health experts from academic and clinical fields. It includes psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, professors, and community experts with decades of experience in mental health. The advisory board provides consultation, advice, and content for MESF, lending expert oversight to the foundation's work.

What the foundation provides

The foundation offers resources and culturally relevant content on its website. A frequently-asked-questions section about mental health is listed (though the exact content is marked "coming soon" in the captured materials). The foundation publishes articles and videos addressing mental health topics relevant to underserved and Black communities. It also directs visitors to crisis resources for acute mental health emergencies.

The organization is clear about what it is and is not. It operates as a resource and support organization, not as a mental health provider. It does not deliver therapy, psychiatric care, or crisis counseling. It provides tools to find a therapist and support systems for therapists.

Who it is for

This resource fits Black people and members of underserved communities seeking a mental health provider of their own race and cultural background. The directory is described as open to "anyone who identifies as Latinx or has ancestral roots in Latin America and anyone engaged in advancing the human rights and dignity of Latinx migrant communities across the United States." More broadly, the directory is available to help people find Black mental health professionals.

The directory and programs fit people in states covered by the directory (at minimum Minnesota; exact geographic reach is not detailed on the captured pages, though the focus areas for direct programming are Minnesota and Wisconsin).

The Mental Health Professional Development Program fits graduate students interested in careers as mental health professionals who are committed to serving underserved communities. The program offers not just tuition support but mentorship and community, recognizing that professional development includes relational support.

The wellness retreats fit mental health providers themselves, particularly those working in underserved communities who experience cumulative stress and burnout. They are designed for therapists as a peer support and restoration resource.

What is not detailed

The foundation does not publish specific details about the scholarship and mentorship program's eligibility criteria, funding amounts, application process, or timeline on the captured pages. Organizations or individuals interested in the Mental Health Professional Development Program would need to contact the foundation directly.

The wellness retreats are not detailed beyond their existence and purpose. Specific dates, cost, location, or registration information is not provided in the materials captured.

The directory does not include ratings or reviews of providers; it is a list without peer or client evaluation. Therapists are listed with credentials but with no indication of their specific specializations, whether they accept insurance, their rates, or their availability beyond what may be on their own sites.

The foundation's geographic reach beyond Minnesota and Wisconsin is not detailed, though the directory appears to cover multiple states. It is unclear whether the foundation plans to expand its direct programming (scholarships and retreats) to other states.

Who it does not fit

This resource does not fit someone seeking immediate crisis intervention or emergency psychiatric care. The foundation directs people to crisis resources but does not operate as one itself.

It may not fit someone seeking therapy directly; MESF is a directory and support organization, not a service provider. The next step is using the directory to find and contact a therapist in your area.

It does not fit someone outside the covered states in the directory, though without a full geographic map it is unclear which states are included.