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California’s Proposition 1 officially passed more than two weeks after election day, and KPIX -TV reported on what it means for the state.
Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, a supporter of Prop 1, was interviewed for the piece. Mark shared that he believes Prop 1 will help folks in need get the behavioral health care they need.
Watch the report here.
San J,osé Spotlight recently ran an op-ed by our CEO, Mark Cloutier, explaining that without Prop 1, which is on the ballot in California on March 5, our housing and mental health crisis will become even more of a challenge.
Mark writes, "Prop. 1 is a game changer for our state, one that is finally recognizing the dire needs of its underserved communities. This would open doors for individuals past the stage of needing intervention services. Prop. 1 heralds supplying resources that are vital for mental health and substance use treatment. The reprioritization of funds will require state and county governments to step up to finance sidelined services. It’s time we dedicate proper funding to both issues while unequivocally voting yes on Prop. 1 — that’s the best step forward to treat the most neglected among us.”
We invite you to read the full op-ed.
Last week, ABC 7 News featured a segment on our Expressive Arts program, teaching artist Michael Collopy, and the pieces currently on display at the Burlingame Public Library.
Please enjoy the piece featured, which is on the Instagram account of ABC 7 News Bay Area reporter Gloria Rodriguez.
Our Expressive Arts program, teaching artist Michael Collopy, and the pieces currently on display at the Burlingame Public Library were featured in an NBC Bay Area News TV segment on Wednesday, June 7.
Please enjoy the piece here.
On the first day of Pride Month, SJSU News Center published an “Alumna Adrienne Keel Shares Moments of Pride” featuring Adrienne Keel, Director of LGBTQ Programs at Caminar.
The piece states,
This June, we recognize community leader Adrienne Keel, ’10 Psychology, who serves as the director of LGBTQ+ programs at Caminar, a behavioral services agency in San José. She agreed to answer questions about her time at SJSU, as well as to share resources that support LGBTQ+ folks in Silicon Valley.
We invite you to read the entire article, including Adrienne’s thoughtful answers, and wish all a happy pride month!
San José Spotlight recently ran an op-ed by our CEO, Mark Cloutier, explaining that the current youth mental health crisis needs more attention.
Mark writes, "Can you imagine what future generations will look like if we cannot get youth treated today? The mental distress young people are currently experiencing will undoubtedly lead to more serious, complex and lifelong mental health disorders, in addition to a greater financial strain on our health care system. From a prevention perspective, we don’t completely understand what is driving this spike in mental distress. It’s time to look at some of the deeper causes we know are giving rise to this wave of emotional distress. There are two actions we need to prioritize now: 1) screening and early intervention, and 2) research into root causes."
We invite you to read the full op-ed.
Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, was interviewed by NBC-TV about the impact of COVID-era Medi-Cal benefits ending at the and of March, and the potential disruptions in benefits and treatment for both kids and adults.
Watch the interview here.
We were thrilled to have our Teen FAST Program featured on the leading Spanish-language news station in the Bay Area, Telemundo, recently. The broadcast now is available for viewing online!
Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter Blanca Garza visited with several of the program participants and members of our program team at Andrew Hill High School, one of our partner school sites. Parents and youth shared how being part of FAST has affected their lives, and Program Manager Alicia Garcia Escobedo spoke to why we are so invested in this work. Principal Jose H. Hernandez also spoke with Ms. Garza about how well the FAST Program helps to advance his goals for the school community.
Click to view the story on Telemundo’s site.
We have been offering the FAST Program, which uses the research-based Families and Schools Together model, since 1993 and pioneered the adaptation of the model for families who primarily speak Spanish at home. In 2012, in response to the rise in youth gang violence, we shifted the program from area elementary schools to high schools. Today, we offer services in partnership with Andrew Hill High, Independence High, and Yerba Buena High, all in east San Jose.
The FAST Program model is widely recognized for its effectiveness in engaging and empowering at-risk youth to make positive life choices and in strengthening families. It has been named a Promising Program by the Center for Mental Health Services, a Model Program by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), a Model Program by Strengthening America’s Families, and an Exemplary Program by Title V (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention/OJJDP, U.S. Department of Justice). Our program is actively engaged in the City of San Jose Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force.
The model is unique in making a two-year commitment to youth and their families and in engaging youth as program leaders and role models.
The Teen FAST curriculum increases self-esteem, improves students’ academic engagement, increases pro-social engagement, develops peer support networks, and strengthens family functioning. We have augmented the curriculum with expanded education about gangs, the juvenile justice system, the effects of traumatic events, and skill-building in wellness and self-care.
Our thanks to the funders of the Teen FAST Program, who make possible our free and comprehensive services: the Cisco Foundation, the City of San Jose B.E.S.T. Program, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs, the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation, and the Morrison & Foerster Foundation.
