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The mission of the Psychedelic Health Equity Initiative (PHEI) is to increase access to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) for marginalized individuals by catalyzing the development of evidence-based, Medicaid-fundable delivery models of care that integrate best practices from the health equity and psychedelic fields.

The mission of the Psychedelic Health Equity Initiative (PHEI) is to increase access to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) for marginalized individuals by catalyzing the development of evidence-based, Medicaid-fundable delivery models of care that integrate best practices from the health equity and psychedelic fields.

Core Strategies:

  1. Support Medicaid leaders in making prompt, positive decisions to fund PAT and support services: We will provide compelling evidence to the multiple health care decision makers who determine what services are available to the underserved population through the Medicaid program. Our success depends on creating, demonstrating, and documenting supportive care models that amplify the benefits of PAT through improved health outcomes, value, and equity. (see appendix A for detailed strategy)

  2. Health Equity Education for the PAT Workforce: Bridging the Gap to Marginalized Groups:  We will support the cultivation of a workforce of adept therapists, facilitators, and administrators from all backgrounds equipped to address the unique needs of marginalized communities by supporting the creation of comprehensive culturally sensitive and health equity informed training tools. We will conduct field-wide assessments of training program curricula and effectiveness, identify gaps, and develop effective learning tools. Finally we will partner with existing and developing training and education programs across the nation to disseminate and train with our tools.

  3. Develop replicable infrastructures that enable healthcare fields to ‘pull’ PAT into existing health systems: Health equity organizations are looking for new and different ways of treating depression, PTSD, substance use, and the many mental health challenges their clients disproportionately face. We will create the PAT infrastructure by merging best practices in the health equity field with those in the psychedelic field to help existing community health hubs address the behavioral health challenges that so many of their clients experience. Improving mental health outcomes is expected to improve the results of all the services and care coordination these health hubs provide.

If you are interested in supporting our efforts and want to learn more about our approach, please request access to our Executive Summary by emailing mary@psychedelichealthequity.org.


Part of our work is to create useful and connective tools for increasing equitable access to psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT) within marginalized communities. Our field map aims to increase visibility and connection amongst leaders and organizations carrying the psychedelic health equity movement.

We seek to collaborate with community leaders, direct service providers, organizations already engaged in PAT equity & access efforts, as well as with folks arriving to the table. We by no means have all the answers and know collaboration and learning in communities of practice is the way forward.



Our primary objectives are to identify and create investment opportunities for philanthropy to fund demonstration projects that will encourage governments, private sector actors and foundations to invest in equitable access for marginalized communities. Become a supporter of PHEI today!


We are a small and growing group of advocates, activists, scientists, investors, and philanthropists seeking to spark change, amplify equity and access efforts, and cultivate connection and awareness within the psychedelic assisted therapy ecosystem.s. Meet our co-leads.

WHO WE ARE

Hanifa Nayo Washington

Dara Menashi, Ph.D.

Incubation & Advisory Support

Capacity Building Assistance

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Thank you to Dr. Bronner’s supporting our mission and a deep bow for all the efforts for justice they continue to support year after year.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

  • Horizons New York is the longest running psychedelic learning and community event in the the world.

    Join in on May 8-11, 2024 at the New York Academy of Medicine for the 16th Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York City.

  • The Entrepreneurship program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is thrilled to present the second annual Business of Psychedelic Therapies conference on Saturday, May 18th in downtown Chicago.

    This year’s theme – Psychedelic Spring: Preparing for Full Bloom – reflects the burgeoning nature of the psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT) space. Industry experts, thought leaders, and regulatory officials will cover both the benefits and challenges of this new form of care delivery, from investment opportunities and the pharmacological basis for why this treatment works to challenges the industry faces with respect to access, adoption, and commercialization.

    Join us for a stimulating day of discussion about how many believe PAT can fundamentally alter the mental healthcare paradigm and improve care delivery models for neurodegenerative diseases traditional healthcare has struggled to address for decades.