Sis, It's time for Self-care!

What is the Sister Healing Circle?

Hey Sis, we are living in unprecedented times, which can trigger our past traumas. We recognize that trauma-informed care for BIPOC women needs to be culturally responsive. We are here to provide a safe space to share your stories and for you to receive a supportive village to navigate your healing journey! The Sister Healing Circle offers adult women educational and experiential tools to continue healing. For six months, there will be weekly virtual support groups and monthly in-person retreats focusing on self-care workshops led by clinical and coaching staff. No cost for participation! Applications are currently closed June 30, 2023.

What is included?

Sister Healing Circle FREE 6 Months Program Includes:

Monthly in-person self-care retreats with wellness experts
Weekly supportive network meetings (virtual)
Culturally responsive, trauma-informed activities for BlPOC Women
Childcare/transportation options available
Caring and professional facilitators
Healthy and nutritional meals
Restorative healing practices that relax the mind, body, and spirit

What to Bring: Absolutely Nothing! ECA's generous donors, sponsors, and partnership with Avail Holistic Healing allowed this opportunity to be accessible to participants. We ask that you only bring an open mind and open heart!

Am I eligible to participate?

Eligibility Criteria:

Woman age 21 years and older
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
Resides in Richmond or the Greater Richmond Area
Have experienced trauma as an adult or child. Traumas may include but are not limited to community violence, domestic/partner violence, sexual assault, child molestation, child abuse, poverty, loss/grief, life stressors, etc.
The support group is designed to support women who are functionally coping with PTSD, trauma, depression, anxiety, and life stressors and seeking alternative healing practices.

Who Should Not Participate?

You should NOT attend the Sister Healing Circle if you:

Are experiencing suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming others. Please call 911.
Have a more severe diagnosis in which a group setting will trigger.
Have any aggressive or disruptive behaviors that will impede the group's healing.

Ineligibility Criteria:

Currently involved in court or legal issues (probation, parole, deferred adjudication)
Child and Adult protective services involvement
Couples in or moving towards divorce proceedings.
Involvement in Current Child Custody Cases
Court-ordered services
Struggling with drugs and alcohol as a primary issue
Suffering from chronic mental illness
Any issue outside of the therapeutic competency of our counseling staff
History of personal self-harm
Sister Healing Circle is NOT a crisis intervention program and encourages women struggling with significant untreated mental health symptoms, active drug and alcohol addiction, or homelessness to seek other professional help before applying.

How Do I apply?

Application and Selection Process/Timeline:

Phase 1: Complete the application and provide a front/back copy of a valid ID by June 30, 2023, by 5:00 pm ET.
Phase 2: June 17-30, 2023, Selection Committee will review applications and select candidates to complete the registration packet.
Phase 3: June 17-July 1, 2023, Selected Candidates will receive a registration packet via email to complete. Selected Candidates must complete the registration packet by July 20, 2023, by 5:00 pm ET.
Phase 4: July 1-10, 2023, Selection Committee will review registration packets and select candidates to schedule a virtual face-to-face consultation. Selection Committee will send selected candidates a notification to schedule a virtual consultation.
Phase 5: July 11-13, 2023, Participate in a Virtual 20-minute consultation with Cameras On. This meeting serves twofold: 1) to assess eligibility for participation and 2) for the candidate to learn and ask questions about the program.
Phase 6: July 14-15, 2023. Selection Committee will select the final candidates and send a notification. The final candidates will have until July 20, 2023, 5:00 pm ET, to accept participation in the program.

What Will I gain from participating?

Our objective is to provide you with the tools and support so that by the end of the six months, there will be an improvement in your physical fitness, mental health, and social wellness dimensions of self-care. In other words, we want you to live your best life by loving yourself and embracing sisterhood!

This program is focused on empowerment. Empowering knowledge and self-advocacy can instill growth; therefore, by providing programming that helps BlPOC women in developing a greater understanding of what they are experiencing, emotionally and physically, and how to address it appropriately, they will become self-advocates, taking an active, educated role in their lives to reduce the risks of psychological or health-related phenomena.

What are the Program dates?

Monthly In-Person Self Care Retreats:

August 26 10am-3pm

September 10 11am-2pm

October 7 10am-3pm

November 4 10am-3pm

December 2 10am-3pm

January 6 10am-3pm

Weekly Virtual Peer Support Group (Sundays 2pm):

8/27, 9/17, 9/24, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3, 12/10, 12/17, 1/7, 1/21, 1/28

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at ecanonprofit@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Do I have to attend all in person and virtual sessions?

The short answer is yes. The Sister Healing Circle is designed as a peer support model in which it takes 6 months to see the impact of the program to improve or change behavior. We encourage all participants to be on time and participate in the entire program, but we understand that unforeseen circumstances may occur. The attendance of each participant will be reviewed at the 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, and 120 days mark. Participants that do not meet the criteria for each review will be immediately discharged from the program.

9/26/23 30 days review: Miss no more than 1 in-person retreat and no more than 1 virtual peer support group.

10/26/23 60 days review: Miss more than 1 in-person retreat and no more than 2 virtual peer support groups.

11/26/23 90 days review: Miss no more than 1 in-person retreat and no more than 3 virtual peer support groups.

12/26/23 120 days review: Miss no more than 1 in-person retreat and no more than 5 virtual peer support groups.

Am I able to vape?

Violating the drug/alcohol/vape policy is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program. Participants are prohibited from the following while on site:

Using, possessing, buying, selling, manufacturing, or dispensing an illegal drug (including possession of drug paraphernalia).
Being under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug.
Possessing or consuming alcohol.
Possessing or using a vape. Add an answer to this item.

How do I receive information about childcare and transportation options?

Candidates who are selected for a virtual consultation will receive information policies and procedures for transportation and childcare service.