CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Sentara Health has given local mental health agency The Women’s Initiative a contribution of $50,000 to assist with providing culturally responsive mental health counseling and treatment.

Elizabeth Irvin, executive director at The Women’s Initiative, said she was grateful for the renewed investment.

“Through our programs and their support, we are working to address health disparity, so that all members of our community have an opportunity to heal and thrive,” said Irvin.

The $50,000 donation from Sentara will be used by The Women’s Initiative to support their Bienestar, Sister Circle, and LGBTQ+ programs. 

The Bienestar program seeks to create a safe space for Latina women to find solutions to their problems by honoring their own truth and focuses on services for Latina women and the Latinx community. 

The Sister Circle program provides culturally responsive, trauma-focused mental health counseling and treatment, and offers social support that meets the unique needs of Black women and women across the African diaspora. 

The agency also offers LGBTQ+ affirming mental health services, offering a variety of groups to meet the unique needs of women and members of the gender-expansive community. 

The Women’s Initiative recognizes that safe spaces to explore shared experiences are an important part of the healing process.