Question 1

BMHV approach to Partnerships

Accepted Answer

Black Mental Health Village (BMHV) collaborates with partners who are committed to healing‑centered, trauma‑informed, and community‑rooted mental health for Black and marginalized communities. Our collaborations must align with our mission, honor community wisdom, and respect our time, labor, and capacity.​

BMHV prioritizes relationships that are reciprocal, transparent, and grounded in trust. We choose partnerships that create sustainable impact, not just one‑time transactions or visibility alone. When partners engage with us, we ask that they invest in the collaboration: financially, relationally, and with shared responsibility for outcomes.​

Learn More about out our Programs (https://www.bmhv.org/programs)& our 4 Healing Departments /  Key focus Areas:
 • CLINICAL DEPARTMENT -  Clinical Healing (https://www.bmhv.org/therapy-access-program)  
 • HEALING CENTERED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT (HCCE/ HEAL TEAM) - Communal Healing (https://www.bmhv.org/healing-centered-community-engagement)
 • MEDIA & STORYTELLING DEPARTMENT - Cultural & Narrative Healing (https://www.bmhv.org/media)
 • HEALTH EQUITY, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT (HEARD) DEPARTMENT - Systems Healing + Liberatory  Ecosystem Development (https://www.bmhv.org/health-justice)

Question 2

Partnership types and expectations

Accepted Answer

To protect our mission and capacity, BMHV uses different types of partnerships. Each type has different expectations, decision‑makers, and typical terms.​

Paid service partnerships
 • Contracts or funded engagements where BMHV provides structured programming, consulting, training, facilitation, or content for a fee.​
 • Must include written terms (agreement or MOU) covering scope, deliverables, timelines, financials, data/media/branding, and evaluation.
 • Use the Partnership/Proposal Intake & Assessment Form  (https://forms.monday.com/forms/e088018ca6bac67eea2bc5c2d15ac5b5?r=use1)
 • Email Partnership@bmhv.org (Partnership@bmhv.org)and benaias@bmhv.org (benaias@bmhv.org)

Core strategic Partners (MOUs & Planned work)
 • Organizations with strong alignment to BMHV values and focus areas where we co‑plan programs, share responsibilities, and often work together over multiple months or years.​
 • Typically formalized with an MOU, shared calendar, and regular check‑ins; may involve shared funding or joint fundraising.​
 • Use the Partnership/Proposal Intake & Assessment Form  (https://forms.monday.com/forms/e088018ca6bac67eea2bc5c2d15ac5b5?r=use1)

Community Ecosystem Partners (existing relationships)
 • Coalitions, networks, community‑based orgs, and mutual aid efforts where BMHV is part of a shared ecosystem.​
 • Focus is on mutual support, information‑sharing, referrals, and collective strategy rather than formal contracts every time.
 • Use the Partnership/Proposal Intake & Assessment Form  (https://forms.monday.com/forms/e088018ca6bac67eea2bc5c2d15ac5b5?r=use1)

Case‑by‑case collaborators - One‑time requests - Visibility‑only opportunities
 • Organizations that invite BMHV into specific projects, events, or initiatives on an occasional basis (e.g., one series, one campaign, one cohort).​
 • First‑time or one‑off requests (e.g., one workshop, one panel, one resource‑share).​
 • Requests primarily offering exposure (logos, unpaid panels, mentions, social media features).​
 • Use the Community Engagement Event Request Form (https://forms.monday.com/forms/f32c3bdd41c112843fda54fec59c47a9?r=use1)

Question 3

Decision principles for engaging or continuing partnership

Accepted Answer

BMHV uses consistent decision principles for all partnership requests and renewals. Staff and leaders ask the same core questions before saying yes.​

BMHV’s partnership decisions aim to:
 • Support consistent and sustainable collaborations (not one‑off burnout).​
 • Ensure strong value alignment in all collaborations.​
 • Prioritize consistent and quality work that matches BMHV’s strategic priorities and long‑term vision.​
 • Meet the needs of the community, not just partner agendas.​
 • Recognize our capacity and invest in our work by favoring opportunities that bring resources (money, staffing, or infrastructure), especially when many requests ask for free programming and services.

BMHV decision filters:
Mission & agenda alignment
 • Does this clearly support our mission and healing‑centered, equity‑driven values.
 • Does it fit at least one strategic priority: 
    • CLINICAL DEPARTMENT -  Clinical Healing   
    • HEALING CENTERED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT (HCCE/ HEAL TEAM) - Communal Healing 
    • MEDIA & STORYTELLING DEPARTMENT - Cultural & Narrative Healing 
    • HEALTH EQUITY, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT (HEARD) DEPARTMENT - Systems Healing + Liberatory  Ecosystem Development

Community impact
 • Does this meaningfully meet needs of Black and marginalized communities we serve, not just serve the partner’s agenda.​

Values & ethics alignment
 • Does the partner’s track record show commitment to equity, anti‑racism, and harm reduction.
 • Are there any red flags (reputation, politics, treatment of community) that require a pause or deeper review.

Capacity & resourcing
 • Do we have realistic staff time, emotional bandwidth, and logistics support.
 • Are they investing in the collaboration (money, in‑kind resources, or infrastructure), or are we being asked to provide free labor.

Relationship & trust
 • Is there a trusted referral, positive past experience, or clear path to shared accountability.
 • Do BMHV staff, members, and community feel respected and safe in this potential collaboration.
 • Will the community have an experience where their safety and humanity is regarded with the utmost importance?

Question 4

Phases of partnership work

Accepted Answer

A. Outreach & attraction (before a specific ask)
 • HCCE and community outreach to build trust and attract new partners.
 • Website, socials, and events that advertise who BMHV is and how to partner.

B. Discovery & fit assessment
 • Reviewing the Partnership/Proposal Intake & Assessment Form.
 • 1:1 discovery meeting to clarify goals, scope, values, and capacity.
 • Internal review using the decision matrix (who must approve, what level of risk/cost).​

C. Scoping & agreement
 • Translating the idea into a realistic scope: what is possible given time, budget, and staff.
 • Drafting or adjusting MOUs/agreements, including roles, timeline, budget, data/branding terms.
 • Finalizing the give–get grid so the value exchange is explicit.

Healing-Centered & Relationship-Driven Partnerships

Collaborate With Us

Want to work with us?

Send a Referral

Paid Partnership

Steps to Formally Partner With Us

1. Attend a meeting

2. Fill out a Form

3. Partnership meeting

Address

Phone

Email

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