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Momentum Center brings its services for struggling teens, adults to Holland

The Holland Sentinel - 11/13/2021

Nov. 13—HOLLAND — The Momentum Center for Social Engagement started offering its programming for adults and teens experiencing mental illness, addiction or disabilities in a new Holland location earlier this month.

The Grand Haven-based nonprofit offers social and recreational programs, including support groups, classes and events, to its members, who pay $1 to join.

For the community, Momentum Center also hosts educational talks and panel presentations on human rights and social justice, most recently spotlighting race and racism through a series of town hall meetings.

Funding from the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland and an invitation to use space in the Boys and Girls Club of Holland's northside location in the evenings turned the expansion dream into a reality.

"In going through COVID-19, which of course heightened mental illness concerns everywhere, we started to engage in conversations with the CFHZ and determined that it would make sense to run a pilot here (in Holland) and see if, in fact, the need was as great as we believe it is," said Barbara Lee VanHorssen, executive director.

The funding has enabled the Momentum Center to offer one year of programming with support groups and activities for teens and adults offered two nights a week.

"We anticipate that we're going to be quickly overwhelmed by the need. I'm looking for more resources so we can expand our services," VanHorssen said.

The Momentum Center fills "a gap in the continuum of care," VanHorssen explained, for people suffering from mental illness or addiction.

"Often, a therapist will say, 'You need to eat right, get some exercise, spend time with people, then come back and see me.' There's a lot of people who don't even know where to begin to get that 'behavioral prescription' met. So we offer those opportunities: yoga, meditation, exercise, healthy nutrition, cooking, baking, a place just to be in positive community, where you're accepted as you are.

"We know that human connection is the most important element of maintaining or regaining our mental health."

In Holland, the Momentum Center hired Christian Garcia, who is bilingual in Spanish and English, to coordinate local programming so the center would be accessible to Holland's Hispanic population. A certified peer support specialist is also on staff.

"We were aware of the need to provide resources to the migrant community," VanHorssen said. "The Boys and Girls Club had identified for us previously a need to provide supports for the parents of the migrant kids that are involved in their programs. So we wanted to be really intentional about that outreach."

The Holland Momentum Center is holding a public open house, 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, at the Northside Boys and Girls Club, 583 Riley St., Holland.

"It's key for a pilot project like this, we want to be able to put a face to the program, and be available to the community to reach out to us," Garcia said.

Ultimately, the Center aims to offer programming 5-7 days a week and to settle in a location where they can open a public-facing community space, like the Momentum Cafe in Grand Haven.

There is no need to be diagnosed with a disability, mental illness or addiction to participate, VanHorssen said. Anyone seeking social or emotional support is welcome.

— Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.

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