Sipping Tea for Black Women’s Wellness
Sipping Tea is a podcast series that elevates our understanding about the supports for Black women's behavioral health needs and the obstacles to accessing those supports. We explore ways to improve Black women's access to opioid use prevention and treatment resources for themselves, their families and communities. By elevating the voices and perspectives of Black mothers, educators, advocates, behavioral health providers, and faith leaders, Sipping Tea hopes to uncover strategies to better serve the Black community.
Funding for Sipping Tea comes from Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment.
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Episodes
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
In this episode, we explore how faith influences the lives of Black women, especially as they navigate issues impacting their mental health. We talk about perceptions of the changing nature of the Black church and its work to navigate today's complex social and political challenges. Our guests are two amazing leaders in the community, Deborah Mitchell and Denisha "Coco" Bland, who share a belief in the power of faith and spirituality to heal and restore community.
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
This episode features the experiences and stories of Javon Williams and Terena Small. Both women experienced loss due to opioid overdose - Javon who lost her son to fentanyl poisoning and Terena who lost a student from opioid overdose. Both women share how they use their grief to prevent other young people from losing their lives and to empower families and communities to take action.
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Stephanie Yancey, Co-Founder of Yancey Recovery Services, part of Yancey Recovery International, shares about her work as a recovery counselor for youth and adults experiencing substance use and mental health crises. Our conversation focused on her insights and observations as a behavioral health provider, particularly the joy she receives when she can help someone find their way to health as well as the struggles she faces as a provider from the Black community. Stephanie breaks down for us what it means to provide trauma informed and culturally appropriate care amid stigma, lack of trust, and historical injustices in how we handle substance use disorders.
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Dr. Flojaune Cofer is a public health advocate and a champion for health equity. She believes in the importance of community and taking care of each other and has worked throughout her personal and professional life to improve people’s lives. In this episode, Dr. Cofer helps us to better understand the cultural and community contexts that put Black women at risk for opioid use as well as opportunities to improve access and use of proven tools and resources.