Chardé Hollins, a renowned clinical social worker and chief executive officer of Relevant Connections LLC, has been honored by Marquis Who’s Who for her exceptional contributions to social work and corrections. With over a decade of experience in health care, corrections, education and grant management, Ms. Hollins is changing how organizations approach mental health and secure funding through her inventive strategies and lived experiences.
Closing the Gap Between Mental Health and Business
Ms. Hollins contributes to addressing the critical issue of mental health in the workplace. She helps Fortune 500 companies and beyond handle the influx of mental health problems while ensuring consistent employee productivity. This is done by changing the conversation around mental well-being in the workplace and advocating for mental health policies that mirror those for physical health.
“Mental health is physical health,” Ms. Hollins emphasizes. “In the same way you have policies for physical injuries, there should be policies for mental health.”
According to Ms. Hollins, just as there are established procedures for handling physical injuries—like visiting a doctor, obtaining a note, and meeting certain requirements before returning to work—the same structured approach should apply to mental health. She emphasizes that companies can create trauma-informed policies that provide employees with the necessary support for their mental well-being, while also maintaining clear workplace expectations. This balance fosters a healthier, more supportive work environment where employees feel cared for but are also encouraged to recover responsibly.
Ms. Hollins’ strategy combines her mastery of mental health with her understanding of business needs. She helps organizations find that balance by developing policies and practices that promote mental health while ensuring employees can fulfill their job responsibilities.
Increasing Access to Care and Competency in Mental Health Treatment
In addition to her work with businesses, Ms. Hollins is addressing the issue of access to mental health care. While stigma around mental health has decreased, she sees competency and access as the next critical challenges. Through Relevant Connections LLC, her organization is dedicated to ensuring clinicians and other health professionals are properly trained to meet the needs of the increasingly diverse populations seeking treatment.
“At Relevant Connections, we focus on equipping health professionals with the skills and cultural competence needed to effectively support individuals from all backgrounds who are ready to engage in treatment,” Ms. Hollins explains.
Ms. Hollins’s success stems from her ability to create safe spaces for sensitive conversations and her experiences at every level of the grant and mental health process. She has been a grant recipient, a grant writer and a client in need of mental health support, giving her a unique perspective on creating the best situations for her clients.
Ms. Hollins is also a regular trainer and consultant for prestigious organizations such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Destination Cleveland, the University of Wisconsin and the Ohio State University. Her inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who is proof of her expertise and dedication to changing the fields of mental health and grant writing for nonprofits and trauma-informed agencies.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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