United Church Homes Becomes First Organization of its kind to Receive W.I.S.E. Certification for Mental Health

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United Church Homes Becomes First Organization of its kind to Receive W.I.S.E. Certification for Mental Health

Marion, OH (Aug. 27, 2024) United Church Homes (UCH) proudly announces that it has become the first organization of its kind to receive the W.I.S.E. Certification for Mental Health through the United Church of Christ (UCC), a significant milestone in its commitment to mental health advocacy. WISE, which stands for Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged for mental health, is a designation that highlights UCH’s dedication to fostering a supportive environment for mental health across all its communities.

In 2023, United Church Homes embarked on an ambitious journey to become informed advocates for mental health. This initiative is part of a broader, national effort led by the United Church of Christ, encouraging its member churches to embrace the W.I.S.E. framework. The certification process involved a comprehensive evaluation of UCH’s mental health advocacy initiatives, which included an anonymous survey conducted among staff and residents to better understand the mental health challenges within UCH communities.

As part of this initiative, UCH developed a W.I.S.E. Commitment Statement, with contributions from the UCH Mental Health Team, that was later approved by the organization’s leadership. The culmination of these efforts was the receipt of the W.I.S.E. Certification, which coincidentally arrived in May—Mental Health Awareness Month.

“We are thrilled to have achieved W.I.S.E. Certification, which reflects our ongoing commitment to mental health advocacy across our communities,” said Rev. Dr. Kenneth Daniel, Chief Executive Officer for United Church Homes. “This certification is a testament to the hard work of our staff and residents and their dedication to creating a supportive environment for all.”

W.I.S.E. for Mental Health will be implemented across all United Church Homes communities in 14 states, ensuring that mental health resources and support are readily available to residents and staff.

For more information about United Church Homes and its WISE Certification, please contact Rev. Becky King, Director of Spiritual Care at [email protected].

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For more than 100 years, United Church Homes has been committed to providing quality housing and services to older adults. Today, UCH is the 19th largest multisite, nonprofit senior living organization in the U.S. according to the 2023 LeadingAge Ziegler 200 ranking, serving nearly 7,000 residents in its more than 90 owned and managed market rate and affordable housing communities in 15 states and two Native American nations. United Church Homes leads with its mission to transform aging by building a culture of community, wholeness and peace for those it is privileged to serve.