MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM
AMSS Partnership with UMB
Honoring Faith While Providing Care: Advancing Culturally Competent Mental Health Training
The American Muslim Senior Society (AMSS), in proud partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) GGEAR Program, recently completed a groundbreaking six month pilot program designed to improve healthcare education through a culturally competent lens. The initiative focused on addressing the mental health and wellness needs of older adult Muslims—an often underserved and misunderstood population—by preparing future healthcare providers to deliver respectful, faith-informed, person centered care.
This collaborative effort culminated in a full-day interdisciplinary training event on April 27, 2025, titled “Honoring Faith While Providing Care.” Hosted in Silver Spring, Maryland, the event brought together graduate students across multiple health disciplines, AMSS outreach ambassadors, faith leaders, and community members. Through lectures, panel discussions, and hands-on exercises, participants explored the impact of cultural traditions, language, and religious values on mental health and aging.
We were honored to welcome Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart to the event. Her attendance reflected the County’s strong support for inclusive, community informed healthcare initiatives. We are proud to share that the event was also featured in her official Council newsletter, helping raise awareness of the importance of culturally competent care in our region.
Read the newsletter mention here
The training not only equipped students with the knowledge and tools to better serve diverse communities, but also fostered meaningful connections between academic institutions and grassroots leaders. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting increased confidence in providing culturally responsive care.
This initiative reflects AMSS’s continued commitment to health equity and the empowerment of both younger and older adults through education, outreach, and community-driven solutions. Plans are now underway to expand the program, develop a culturally-informed mental health toolkit, and bring this model to other faith and cultural communities.
AMSS Partnership with UMB
The American Muslim Senior Society and the University of Maryland Baltimore Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program School of Graduate Studies are pleased to announce a partnership in education and training to promote cultural sensitivity and competency in the field of healthcare.
Under the leadership of Dr. Diane Martin, Director of UMB GGERP, AMSS will be developing a student education program to train UMB students in aspects of culturally competent health care, including mental health, that focuses on traditions, language, cultural values and religious beliefs of minority communities, especially diverse Muslim Communities.
AMSS is a non-profit health and long-term care organization with a mission to empowering Montgomery County residents aged 55 and older, particularly those who are underserved by providing culturally competent tools, resources, and intergenerational support to help individuals live independently and with dignity within their communities.
The program will feature lectures from community healthcare experts, as well as opportunities for UMB students and older members of the Muslim community to engage in thought-provoking dialogues
For more information, contact [email protected]