Caminar in the News: The Secret Sauce To Successful Client-Provider Care

Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, is an official member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council. His latest thought-leadership article recently published, “The Secret Sauce To Successful Client-Provider Care.”

In the article, Cloutier states: “Empathy, understanding, sensitivity and awareness are a handful of the qualities that providers and organizations need to embrace and embody to build strong therapeutic bonds with the clients they are serving. As more research and studies point to the fact that mental health continues to be a crisis in our nation, I hope that behavioral health organizations consider these actions when designing programs to keep client-centered care at the focus of their work.“

We invite you to read the entire article here.

Caminar in the News: H.E.A.R.T. Program on ABC 7

On June 17, ABC 7 featured Justin Ortiz of our H.E.A.R.T. Program, who highlighted the importance of discussing and sharing resources for healthy relationships in the LGBTQ+ community.

According to a recent survey conducted by the H.E.A.R.T. Program—which stands for Healthy Equitable and Respectful Together—individuals have difficulties getting the help they need due to several factors. In order of prevalence, most respondents said these factors impacted them asking for help:

  • Lack of mental health services for prevention and intervention of intimate partner violence

  • Healthy LGBTQ+ intimate relationships are not being represented in the community

  • Isolation from family and friends’ support

  • Cultural/societal stereotypes (such as gender norm constructs)

Additional themes that emerged from the feedback included that intimate partner relationships were not as widely talked about in the community as cisgender or heterosexual abusive intimate partner relationships, and there is a generalized fear of seeking legal help.

H.E.A.R.T. offers resources to the community, including workshops for individuals to attend who are seeking help, and provides a comfortable space to share more information on building healthy relationships.

We invite you to view the 5-minute segment.

For more information about H.E.A.R.T., please call 408.840.7600, email heartprogram@fcservices.org or visit https://www.instagram.com/heartprogramsantaclaracounty/.

In the News: South Bay nonprofit tackles youth mental health issues

Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, was interviewed by NBC Bay Area about the youth mental health epidemic and how our FAST program in the South Bay is working to address youth mental health. The FAST program, which stands for families and schools together, focuses on kids who live in low-income or violent neighborhoods in San Jose and has real-life outcomes such as increased self-esteem, improved academic performance, and strengthened family relationships

Please enjoy the interview here.

In the News - Cloutier: Without Prop. 1, our dire housing and untreated mental health crisis will get worse

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. 

Caminar in the News: Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Are You Worried Yet?

Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, is an official member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council. His first thought-leadership article recently published, “Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Are You Worried Yet?”

In the article, Cloutier states: “We can no longer overlook the abundance of warning signs and risks to adolescent mental health posed by social media. With up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 using a social media platform, the issue has become so concerning that the Surgeon General issued a warning. Yet the warning signs continue to mount. “

We invite you to read the entire article here.

Caminar in the News: HUD doles out nearly $2 million for CAP Solano housing projects

The Daily Republic recently reported that the Housing First Solano Continuum of Care agencies and organizations have received nearly $2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding is primarily for use with housing projects in Solano County.

Caminar is a recipient of part of that funding: “Caminar received two grants, totaling $253,618, for its programs at Sereno Village, in Vallejo, and Laurel Gardens, in Fairfield.”

You may read the entire article here.

Caminar in the News: The Mental Health Crisis Gripping Our Youth with Mark Cloutier

Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, recently spoke with Dr. Graham Taylor, host of the Behavioral Health Today podcast. Dr Taylor and Mark spoke at length about the increasingly pervasive mental health issues that adolescents are experiencing.

We invite you to listen to the 30-minute episode.

The Behavioral Health Today podcast is designed to share unique and relevant topics occurring within our world and communities and bring them a behavioral and mental health perspective.

Caminar in the News: Mark Cloutier Of Caminar On 5 Things We Need To Do To Improve The US Healthcare System

Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, was interviewed in December by Authority Magazine on “5 Things We Need To Do To Improve The US Healthcare System”.

This in-depth interview covers a broad range of topics, including how Mark began his career in healthcare, his favorite quote, and how the healthcare system can be improved to serve patients better.

We invite you to read the interview here.

Caminar in the News: Bay FC Pride Collection Proceeds to Benefit the LGBTQ Youth Space

The LGBTQ Youth Space, a program of Caminar, is delighted that Bay FC will be donating a portion of all net proceeds from their Pride Collection to the program.

Bay FC’s Pride Collection celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in the Bay Area.

The Youth Space is a community drop-in center and mental health program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and ally youth and young adults ages 13-25 who live in Santa Clara County.

We invite you to read Bay FC’s entire press release here.

Caminar in the News: H.E.A.R.T. Program on ABC 7

As October and Domestic Violence Awareness Month wrapped up, ABC 7 featured Isabella Bunkers of our H.E.A.R.T. Program.

The H.E.A.R.T. Program - which stands for Healthy Equitable and Respectful Together - has been working with the Santa Clara County community since January 2023 to create a safe space to discuss relationships and bring an end to domestic and intimate partner violence.

 H.E.A.R.T. offers resources to the community, including workshops for individuals to attend who are seeking help, and provides a comfortable space to share more information on building healthy relationships.

In the interview, Bunkers and ABC7 Morning anchor Jobina Fortson discussed the importance of bringing awareness around domestic and intimate partner violence, building healthy relationships, and sharing resources. We invite you to view the 4-minute segment.

In the News: Alumna Adrienne Keel Shares Moments of Pride

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!

In the News - Cloutier: The mental distress of our youth needs more attention

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.