About Us – Counselors in the Community Association

ABOUT CITCA

Our Mission

Founded in 2019, Counselors in the Community Association (CITCA) is dedicated to empowering marginalized and neuro-divergent individuals to achieve social and economic prosperity. Our mission is to address social determinants of health and economic disparities through innovative programs and strategic partnerships. We aim to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating a positive social impact in underserved communities. We’re here connecting the dots to bridge the gap.

Our Core Values

CITCA is dedicated to fostering a new wave of mental health awareness and support within communities. Our mission is to be a beacon of hope, guiding individuals toward housing and employment opportunities that contribute to their long-term well-being.

Empowerment: We host events to raise awareness and expand access to essential mental health resources and support networks. We amplify the voices of youth, families, and communities, advocating for improved access to care and better quality of mental health services.

Innovation: We introduce creative solutions and new approaches to address community disparities and challenges, developing forward-thinking, culturally centric strategies and opportunities that meet the evolving needs of communities.

Stewardship: Through service and volunteerism, we strengthen community bonds, creating lasting, positive change for those in need.

Equity: We champion education, opportunity, and equitable care to foster social and economic stability for all.

Our Vision

We envision a society where everyone, regardless of their background or neurodiversity, has equitable access to opportunities and resources necessary that empower social and economic prosperity where any individual can learn, experience, and grow to their fullest potential.

About Our Founder

Jacqueline Stevenson, a mother of four, author, and industrial-organizational psychologist, founded CITCA driven by a deeply personal mission to address the mental health disparities and systemic barriers affecting BIPOC communities. Her journey is more than a career—it’s been shaped by over 15 years of life experiences and professional dedication. Losing her mother to suicide was a defining moment that revealed the critical gaps in mental health support and community care. This sparked a strong resolve to advocate for more compassionate and effective policies and resources for those facing similar struggles living in poverty and undiagnosed mental conditions. Raised in poverty, Jacqueline has experienced the challenges marginalized individuals face. As a mother to a neurodivergent child, her awareness of how these barriers intersect and create additional inequities for vulnerable populations deepened.

By strengthening community ecosystems, Jacqueline seeks to create a world where mental health resources and access to life enriching opportunities are accessible to all—allowing communities to build resilience and grow beyond limitations. Her work is both a tribute to her mother’s memory and a reflection of her commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive society.

Post COVID-19 Youth Issues

Since COVID-19, youth mental health has declined significantly. By 2021, 42% of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless, and 22% considered suicide. Minority youth have also been particularly affected, with depression and anxiety rates nearly doubling among groups of Black, Hispanic, and Asian people. In response, CITCA aims to support these young people by expanding mental health resources, continuing to promote accessible care, and providing targeted community support to address this urgent crisis.

Youth Sadness

Raised 42%

Suicide Consideration

Raised 22%

Our Commitment to Communities

Since its inception, we’ve been committed to building a strong community ecosystem. Here’s how and why we do it.

Improving the Quality of Care

We prioritize maintaining the highest standards of care by collaborating with industry leaders to implement effective and innovative practices. This partnership allows us to address the unique needs of our community while continuously improving our services. We are proud to empower individuals and families, fostering resilience and well-being in their lives.

Collaborative Partnerships

We are dedicated to expanding opportunities for those in need by providing access to essential resources and support services. Our goals focus on empowering individuals through educational programs, workforce development, and community engagement, ensuring that everyone has a chance to thrive. By fostering partnerships and creating inclusive environments, we strive to remove barriers and enhance the overall well-being of our communities.

Building Communities

CITCA takes pride in our stewardship and commitment to advancing civic innovation through strategic initiatives that enhances the community and empowers. We promote collaborative solutions to address societal challenges, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and effectively to benefit others. By fostering an environment of innovation, we strive to create lasting positive change that uplifts individuals and strengthens our communities.

Why Choose Us?

We are pioneers of increasing community health and awareness.

By mobilizing resources and building alliances we drive transform!

Since 2019 we have empowered youth through Social Emotional Learning (SEL), academic programs, and leadership development throughout communities across America. Collaborating with clinicians, agencies, and those in need, to ensure access to care and resources. Our efforts have supported over 400 children with SEL, assisted 75 individuals in receiving career development, and provided mental health care to more than 5,000 community members nationwide. Additionally, we offer paid service and volunteer opportunities to uplift underserved communities, demonstrating our commitment to fostering a healthier and more equitable environment for all.

See What Others
Have to Say?

I am grateful for the transformative experience I have gained with ECSEL. The program equip me with essential cognitive skills for navigating the social world, fostering my growth into a more socially aware individual. Beyond the skills acquired, ECSEL offered a sense of comfort and belonging that transcended the typical counselor-mentee relationship. Instead, I found a supportive family within the program, forming lasting bonds that endure even after completion. ECSEL not only helped me understand myself better but also enable me to empathize and connect with others on a deeper level.

Being at CITCA has been very beneficial to me more than i expected it to be. The impact CITCA has made on me has only been positive. Working at CITCA has many benefits including a supportive environment and team. The feedback, advice, and support i’ve received from my team and Director has helped me improve and broaden my thought process. It has also made me feel like I finally have a support system at work who believes in my ability to do each task assigned. I have also started going to therapy again and have been inspired to by the work we do here at CITCA. Even though I’ve only been here a short while, I know that this is the best place for me and I wouldn’t change a thing.

My experience with CITCA has been great so far I've learned a lot in just this short amount of time and it has changed me a little but I think for the better. I feel like this has been very beneficial to my mentality and can be extremely beneficial to my professional image. I see myself going pretty far with this opportunity, at least I hope to.

Hey! My name is Jaydin. My experience with CITCA has been a great learning experience so far, and I’m eager to continue growing and applying my new skills in different areas of my life. I’ve been enjoying doing projects, meeting new people, building relationships, and preparing myself to engage with communities in ways that foster growth, collaboration, and positive change. Being a part of CITCA has been beneficial in so many ways. It’s providing my professionalism an opportunity to flourish and allowing me to prosper in any workforce. In the future, I see the connections I built. That opened doors to opportunities that have helped me grow professionally and personally. By staying connected with the Individuals I met at CITCA and learning from diverse perspectives I will be able to gain valuable insight and skills that will contribute to my career journey. Apart from that, being able to look at the positive impact we’ve at CITCA made together and I’m able to say I contributed and/or made a difference.

My time with the company has been a learning experience opening me up to a new methods of development. I've acquired a thought process being able to be more compliant and understanding with others of all ages. CITCA is a community organization which has shown me no matter your origin the environment you're placed in does not have to define the best version of yourself you could possibly imagine is out there. In my future I see myself rising to new employment levels and meeting more amazing people that teach me new ways to view the world as well as new resources to help all the people I can. 🙂

Be the Change

CITCA Initiatives!

CITCA has four very powerful initiatives designed to address key areas of community development and support.

ECSEL for Communities

The Enhancing Children’s Social Emotional Leverage (ECSEL) initiative focuses on equity by fostering the social and emotional development of children. Through partnerships with schools and recreation centers, we provide both in-school and out-of-school support, alongside PRP (Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program) and medical partners, ensuring that every child has the resources and opportunities needed to thrive, regardless of their background.

STEAM Forward

Empowering individuals through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education and opportunities, CITCA aims to bridge educational gaps and provide resources for skill development in these critical areas. Through initiatives such as the Digital Gen Program, the Youth Voice Podcast, and partnerships focused on expanding STEAM opportunities, we are committed to fostering growth and engagement in these digital fields.

Stewarding Communities

We empowers local voices, promotes equitable policies, and ensures that community needs are represented and addressed at all levels of decision-making. Committed to service, we actively contribute to volunteer programs, offer internship opportunities, and support the Maryland Service Year Program to inspire civic engagement and community involvement.

Resilience Paths

Committed to workforce development, CITCA offers training programs, job placement services, and career advancement opportunities aimed at building a resilient workforce equipped to thrive in today’s dynamic job market. Through a focus on wellness, workforce empowerment, and psycho-social transformation, we are dedicated to transforming minds and lifestyles to support holistic personal and professional growth.

ABOUT CITCA

Our Mission

Our Core Values

Our Vision