San Francisco – As part of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) annual “APA Gives Back” program, APA President Altha Stewart, M.D., presented a donation today of more than $15,000 to this year’s recipient, the Young Women’s Freedom Center, during the Opening Session of the APA Annual Meeting at the Moscone Center. Executive Director Jessica Nowlan accepted the check on behalf of the Young Women’s Freedom Center.

Now in its 10th year, the APA Gives Back program provides an opportunity for APA, its members, and Annual Meeting attendees to support a community mental health organization in the city hosting the Annual Meeting. The APA matches donations dollar for dollar. Since 2010, APA and members and attendees have donated more than $170,963 through the program.

For 25 years the Young Women's Freedom Center has been providing support, advocacy, and opportunities for healing for women and girls of color who are impacted by poverty or who were formerly incarcerated. The Center provides economic opportunities coupled with progressive leadership development through internships, employment, and engagement in advocacy and organizing work. They are working to build a movement of formerly incarcerated or marginalized young women to lead local campaigns, statewide policy initiatives and to advocate for all women and girls. Jessica Nowlan entered the organization seeking help for her own needs 20 years ago and today serves as the organization’s leader.

“We are pleased to be able to show our support for the important work of the Young Women’s Freedom Center to support young women of color and transform the systems that keep them stuck in cycles of poverty, violence and incarceration,” Stewart said. “The organization strives to address social determinants of health and mental health and demonstrates a passion for improving the lives of all women, especially those trapped in systems that are not designed to meet their often-complex needs.”

The Young Women’s Freedom Center has offices in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, Calif.

Contributions to the Young Women’s Freedom Center can continue to be made through APA’s registration system for the Annual Meeting at psychiatry.org/annualmeeting.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 38,500 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information please visit www.psychiatry.org.