For nearly two decades, Centers of Wellness for Urban Women, Inc. (CWUW) has empowered Central Indiana women and their families to take control of and improve their health.
Founded by Rhonda Bayless in 2007, the organization’s approach spans everything from education to advocacy to direct caregiving.
Bayless formed the idea back in the 1990s while working in HIV treatment. “I knew we needed earlier intervention. I wanted to form a place that focuses on what is now called ‘social determinants of health,’ those things that go on to influence good or bad outcomes.”
While taking a holistic approach to healthcare is a more widely accepted practice today, that wasn’t the case when CWUW was founded.
“The concept of ‘wellness’ wasn’t all that well known locally in 2007,” Bayless said. “But after researching successful programs in other cities, I saw a need to create a space in Indy where women could focus on themselves and play a more active role in their health, preventing more serious health issues like what I had seen with HIV.”
To do that, CWUW’s programs focus on seven aspects of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, occupational and social.
For many clients, these concepts get introduced during CWUW’s Connections 4 Wellness program.
“That’s our wraparound services program,” Bayless said. With a focus on mental health, the program begins with women introducing themselves to CWUW staff and discussing how they view their health needs. Depending on those needs, Connections 4 Wellness then moves onto one-on-one coaching, medical referrals, financial education, and even resources for basic needs like housing.
In 2022, Women’s Fund awarded CWUW with a $25,000 grant to build up Connections 4 Wellness.
“What we’ve found is a lot of people just don’t know the resources that are already out there,” Bayless said. “So, a big part of our work is showing women what services they can use and who to talk to around town. And we support them when they’re on that journey, too.”
Connections 4 Wellness also addresses the stigma surrounding mental health care. “We’ve found that can be a challenge when it comes to women accessing all the services that can help. We do that especially because we serve mostly Black women, and we know there can be skepticism.”
That cultural awareness extends to CWUW’s clinician partners. “Folks at every step of the way need to have that cultural competency. It can dictate if a woman decides to stay in treatment or not.” When it comes to challenges of affordability, CWUW allots funding to cover out-of-pocket costs for clients. Their in-house and partner mental health clinicians will also grant a limited number of free sessions for those who are uninsured.
Over the last several years, as need dramatically increased in the wake of the pandemic, CWUW had to expand their reach, which included expanding their operations.
“We’re up to a staff of ten now, with all the office space and overhead that requires,” Bayless said. “That’s often where the financial struggle is because operations are absolutely critical to filling the need. We can’t do it without facilities, computers, software or lights.”
In 2024, Women’s Fund awarded CWUW a $20,000 grant specifically for operations.
After nearly two decades of CWUW, Rhonda emphasizes the importance of commitment.
“Mental health is a fragile thing in every community, but especially in the communities we serve,” Bayless said. “So, getting people the full help they need takes time. Years.”
Bayless gave the example of a woman she’s worked with since 1999—before CWUW was even a reality.
“This woman was a sex worker with substance use disorder and several unacknowledged mental health challenges. It took years to get her into treatment. She would disappear for a while then pop back up. Time went by, I was at a different agency, and she came back. We finally got her a diagnosis. It turned out she was bipolar and schizophrenic. That makes it extremely difficult to get a regular job with a good wage.
“We were able to get her into housing and care, but this all took years. That consistency and my availability to her over time… that is the real work. Even with the best help, it’s hard for any of us to change our life, but it’s especially hard for women facing so many internal and external challenges. That’s why we often see the best outcomes after years of engagement.”
Bayless explained her clients appreciate this most about CWUW. “In this work, you need credibility because many of these women have seen other efforts and organizations come and go. If they’re making a commitment, clients need to know that you’re also in it for the long haul.”
Now approaching their second decade, CWUW has earned the trust of their clients alongside the region’s philanthropic community.
To learn more, visit CWUWonline.org
This article was published within the November 2024 issue of the Women’s Fund’s Diane magazine.
