TAMPA, Fla. — This year’s hurricane season is officially over, but if you drive around, you can still see remnants of last year’s storms.
Structure damage and blue tarps on roofs are still spread across several Bay Area communities.
What You Need To Know
Inspira Tampa Bay Inc. is a nonprofit focused on helping the neurodivergent and at-risk children of South Hillsborough County
The nonprofit received a grant for its ‘Thrive after the storm’ initiative
The initiative will help bring in a bilingual licensed mental health therapist for families
But one thing you may not see is the toll these storms can have on one’s mental health. Now, a grant through the Florida Disaster Fund is providing a safe space for hurricane survivors to talk through some of the unseen damage the storms left behind.
If you’ve ever met Luz Gaona, you’d quickly find out she has a heart to give.
She is the founder of Inspira Tampa Bay, a nonprofit focused on helping the neurodivergent and at-risk children of south Hillsborough County with support and resources through literacy and mentorship programs.
A big part of what they do is community outreach.
“It’s bringing that inclusivity, it’s bringing in that community and creating a space where our families can be who they are,” Gaona said.
Aside from that, they also have literacy and mentorship programs, and their most used is the unique abilities boutique. Gaona says it’s about providing extra support to families — and now they’ll be adding mental health to that list.
The nonprofit received a grant to help establish “Thrive after the storm,” a neurodiversity inclusive disaster recovery initiative.
Its focus is mental health support for the community. “Many of our families are still kind of even trying to grasp on to something, get a moment to breathe and life doesn’t stop,” Gaona said.
She says many families are unaware of the mental toll last year’s hurricanes had on them. Through this grant, they’ll be able to provide recovery workshops, disaster readiness plans, first aid and basic life support.
Daiana Bernard is part of the initiative. She is a bilingual licensed mental health counselor and founder of Meaningful Therapy. She’ll be available to meet with families.
“When we go through something so horrific, we want to be understood, and we always feel like you’re not going to understand,” Bernard said. “But the people sitting next to you understand, you all will see how your strengths come together and how you are able to be in a better place.”
While the nonprofit helped with initial assessments of what families needed post-hurricanes, Gaona says it’s important to take a step back and analyze how families feel.
“If you don’t have the healthy coping skills, what do you hold on to?” she said.
They’re giving families the tools to be prepared for every hurricane season.
Sessions will be held on Saturdays in person and virtually.