Edgewater Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2026

FAITH CDC’s Annual Next Urban Agriculture Generation JUMP Program in Parternship with My Brother's Keeper Returns to Empower Lake County Youth

(Gary, IND) – FAITH (Families Anchored in Total Harmony) CDC, in collaboration with My Brother’s Keeper of Lake County, Indiana, is proud to announce the return of the Next Urban Agriculture Generation (NUAG) JUMP Program. Open to students entering grades 6–12, this dynamic summer program provides hands-on training in gardening, composting, and sustainable farming techniques, while also building leadership, teamwork, and college readiness skills.

“This program is about more than agriculture—it’s about cultivating the next generation of leaders and creating more meaningful opportunities for youth in our community,” said Dr. Tifany Jamison, Program Director of NUAG at FAITH CDC. “I look forward to this program every year and am excited to continue passing the torch to our youth.”

Participants will also have the opportunity to earn through a paid internship at $15 per hour, offering both valuable work experience and financial empowerment.

Program Schedule:

Youth Program:
Saturdays, April 4 – May 23, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Paid Internship:
Summer Cohort 1: June 1 – June 26
Summer Cohort 2: July 6 – July 31
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays | 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

All sessions will take place at Faith Farms & Orchard, located at 656 Carolina Street in Gary, Indiana.

FAITH CDC encourages families, students, and community members to take advantage of this impactful opportunity. Space is limited, and registration closes on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Interested participants may apply using the link here or by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer.

For more information about the NUAG program or to register, please contact Program Director Dr. Tifany Jamison at (219) 380-3585 or via email at [email protected].

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Showing up. Staying the course. Doing the work.

Today we recognize our physicians who lead with compassion and conviction. Thank you for delivering whole-person care and standing in the gap for those who need it most.

We honor:

Gerri C. Browning, MD
Chief Medical Officer

Dewnzar Howard-Jones, MD
Medical Director/Behavioral Health Psychiatry

Chiedu Nchekwube, MD
Family Medicine & Integrative Medicine

Sharon James, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology

"How we show up -- especially in challenging moments -- is what defines our impact. Thank you for how you show up -- every day, for every patient." -Dr. Danita Johnson Woods, CEO

The opening session is done, now it's time for breakout sessions where students dive into the six key milestones to success!

Edgewater Health Launches New Mobile Crisis App to Strengthen Field Response, Data Reporting, and Community Care

Gary, IN (February 18, 2026) - After more than five decades of serving the community, Edgewater Health is continuing to lead with innovation through the launch of its new Mobile Crisis App — a tool designed initially for crisis workers responding to behavioral health emergencies in the field.

Built for frontline staff on the organization’s mobile crisis teams, the app helps crisis workers do patient intake, document assessments, coordinate care, connect clients to services, and communicate across systems in real time. The platform supports smoother transitions between field response, the crisis stabilization center, detox treatment services, and ongoing behavioral health care — helping ensure people in crisis receive timely, appropriate support.

A major feature of the app is its robust reporting and data tracking capabilities, designed to streamline required DARMHA reporting (Data Assessment Registry Mental Health and Addiction) – Indiana’s required system for tracking behavioral health services, client data, and outcomes to support accountability and service quality. The system captures detailed, structured information including crisis type (such as su***de risk, serious mental illness, youth mental health concerns, and substance use crises), referral sources including law enforcement and other community partners, gender identity, veteran status, disability status, insurance and payor sources, and additional demographic and service data that help the organization better understand community needs and outcomes.

“This app reflects who we’ve always been — a community partner willing to evolve to meet the moment,” said Dr. Danita Johnson Woods, CEO of Edgewater Health. “The app was built with our crisis workers in mind. They are out in the community every day doing incredibly demanding work. Giving them technology that makes their jobs easier and strengthens care coordination reflects our commitment to innovation and most importantly, to the community— not just for today, but for the next 52 years.”

And now that the app is in play, Woods said the team has already identified additional applications in other core behavioral health services to streamline processes, enhance response times and delivery systems.

“I’ve seen firsthand how important coordination and shared information are when someone is in crisis,” said Derrick Cannon, Chief of the Gary Police Department. “Our officers see the impact of timely behavioral health support every day, and this technology strengthens collaboration, so people receive the right response from trained professionals at the right time.”

“Our goal was to build technology that works the way crisis teams actually work — fast, mobile, and centered on people,” said Michael Labroi, Chief Information Officer at Edgewater Health. “The app gives staff real-time tools in the field while capturing the data we need for state and federal reporting, helping us turn information into better care and smarter decision-making across the system.”

The launch reinforces Edgewater Health’s long-standing mission to evolve alongside the community it serves — blending trusted relationships with forward-thinking solutions that improve access, accountability, and outcomes in integrated behavioral health and primary care.

The Mobile Crisis App is now in use by Edgewater Health’s crisis response staff on both iPhone and Android devices.

About Edgewater Health
Edgewater Health is northwest Indiana’s full-service partner for culturally competent, high-quality primary care and behavioral health services. Our approach to caring for the whole person begins with health screenings and assessments and extends to integrated and specialized care that may include addiction and opioid treatment, inpatient, outpatient, and adult residential services in 10 locations. Edgewater Health originated in 1974 as the Gary Community Mental Health Center and has grown steadily in response to the community’s needs. In 2015, Edgewater Health established the Rapid Access Center, the only one of its kind in the state of Indiana at the time. In 2019, Edgewater Health achieved Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike status under the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). In 2024, the organization expanded its crisis services with the launch of two mobile crisis response teams. In 2026, Edgewater Health launched a school-based health clinic at West Side Leadership Academy in Gary, IN. Edgewater Health is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Visit us at edgewaterhealth.org.

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February is Heart Health Month - and our physicians are in the spotlight!

This month, our community's heart health is front and center and The Times of NWI is featuring our board member, Dr. Andre Artis, and two of our physicians, Gerri Browning, MD and Dr. Chiedu Nchekwube, MD, sharing practical, eye-opening insights on how heart health is shaped by diet, economic factors, and overall well-being.

We are proud to see our clinical leaders elevating the conversation beyond cholesterol numbers toward whole-person care that meets people where they are and helps them live longer, healthier lives.

Take a moment this February to check in on your heart - physically and emotionally.

Superfoods at the supermarket: Region health experts offer these tips for heart-healthy grocery shopping Region nutrition experts and health care professionals offer their insights on how to find heart-healthy options at the grocery store and beyond.