In the News: Workforce Development Board of Solano County and partner agency Caminar help Fairfield woman find her dream job

Sacramento News and Review recently shared the story of how Caminar’s Jobs Plus team helped a Solano County woman find her dream job:

Today, she is a classroom paraeducator working with kindergarten and first grade students with special needs.

“I love it,” Carillo says. “I learned something every day. It’s fun, and it feels like I’m giving back to society.”

“I couldn’t have done it without them, that’s for sure,” she adds of the Solano County WDB and Caminar. “Being bipolar and having so much information coming at me brought on anxiety. But they were able to tell me what my next steps were and what would get me from point A to point B.”

Her advice to others?

“Don’t give up. There are resources out there to help you.”

Please see the full article here.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: How are you?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we’ve been observing it in the United States since 1949. The last couple of years have been particularly challenging, and the importance of mental health and well-being has never been so significant.

We invite you to pay special attention to your mental health this month, as well as the mental well-being of your friends, family, and colleagues.

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out.

In the News: San Mateo continues Diversity Task Force plans

The San Mateo Daily Journal recently wrote about the city of San Mateo’s Diversity and Equity Task Force, which is working to increase diversity and inclusion on city boards, commissions, and other organizations:

“Fourteen San Mateo organizations have a representative on the task force to provide recommendations to the council and staff for improvements to equity, diversity and inclusion. Councilmembers Diane Papan and Amourence Lee serve as liaisons. Participating groups include Peninsula Solidarity Cohort, San Mateo Pride Center, San Mateo Union High School District, Samaritan House, PAL Board, Self Help for the Elderly, the Home Association of North Central San Mateo, Peninsula Family Services, the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce, San Mateo Japanese American Community Center, College of San Mateo, Caminar, Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council and the San Mateo-Foster City School Board.”

Caminar is pleased to be part of this important task force. We invite you to read the full article here.

In the News: Workforce Development Board and Caminar give Suisun City man a second chance at life

Sacramento News and Review recently shared the story of how Caminar’s Jobs Plus team helped a Solano County man find employment:

“Larry Jackson, 46, of Suisun City, is turning his life around, thanks to the Workforce Development Board of Solano County and its partners.

After serving more than a year in prison, Jackson needed a job to support his children, he says. But his struggles with bipolar disorder and depression did not help.

He used to work in the mortuary transport field, he says. “But that was getting to me because of my mental health.”

So, he turned to employment specialist Roxanne Medearis at Caminar, a nonprofit agency offering behavioral health and social services.”

Please see the full article here.

Caminar's Speakers Series: Replay Available

Caminar's Speakers Series event, Revolutionizing Behavioral Healthcare: Putting racial equity at the heart of mental well-being, was held on April 5. 

Our keynote speaker, Kenneth V. Hardy, Ph.D., spoke about 10 critical steps individuals and organizations can take to advance the cause of racial equity.

Dr. Hardy is a clinical and organizational consultant and director at the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships. He is a frequent conference speaker and has also appeared on ABC’s 20/20, Dateline NBC, PBS, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dr. Hardy was in conversation with Caminar's CEO, Mark Cloutier, MPP, MPH.

We invite you to watch the replay, available now!

Ed's Story: Rescued by Caminar

Suddenly delusional and overcome with irrational thoughts, Ed checked himself into the hospital. He was 22, living at home, and employed. But that all changed upon admittance to the psychiatric ward and a schizophrenia diagnosis.

Concerned that returning home would exacerbate Ed’s condition, doctors and county officials recommended community-supported housing, ongoing treatment, medications, and case management services from Caminar. That was 50 years ago.

Today, Ed is still a Caminar client and shares, “Without Caminar, I’d be in a locked ward and have had no chance at a normal life in the community. I’ve had friends and cherished relationships for years, and I wouldn’t have had that without a tremendous social environment like Caminar.”

In the last 50 years, Ed has worked hard to stabilize his mental health, work, and get his college degree. It hasn’t always been easy, but he is grateful for the journey and the ongoing support of Caminar. Despite incarceration, homelessness, hospitalizations, Ed says that Caminar has always “picked me and put me back on track.”

While housing has changed many times over the years, with the help of Caminar, he’s never been unhoused. He’s benefited from employment support, supported education, and group therapy – especially coping skills groups. His case managers over the years have assisted with dental care and treatment, eyeglasses, establishing an advanced directive, among many other daily living supports. “I have someone I can confide in about my problems, and I really appreciate it,” says Ed about his relationship with his case manager. In turn, Ed’s current case manager observes that he is spiritual, mindful of others, and often looks inward to find peace and serenity. He’s truly a pleasure to work with and support.

When asked about a memorable experience during his 50-year history with Caminar, Ed describes a challenging time in 2013 when he was hospitalized after a mental health crisis. Doctors planned to move him to a locked facility in the Central Valley. He was terrified he’d never lead a normal life again. Ed’s case manager advocated on his behalf, and he was referred to Caminar’s Redwood House, a residential crisis program. At Redwood House, he was able to recover, re-stabilize his condition, and consider how best to move forward in life. He learned his boundaries, began asking for help when needed, and realized that going along with the Caminar program prevents undesirable consequences.

“I was rescued by Caminar.”

-Ed

Margaret's Story: Home at Caminar

Meet Margaret, a long-time client who found Caminar after years of trauma – including sexual assault, addiction, poverty, incarceration, racism, homelessness, and life on her own in San Francisco’s Tenderloin since she was 12. 

Margaret exemplifies someone whose life circumstances gave rise to significant behavioral health challenges. With the help of Caminar, coupled with her indomitable spirit, she is now stable, clean, housed, and focused on supporting women who have faced similar trauma. She believes that if Caminar had been in her life during her adolescence, she’d have had an entirely different life – one with considerably less suffering.

Spotlight: Jobs Plus 

Long-term unemployment is a social determinant of health that has not been consistently recognized for its negative effects. According to the APA, “The body of evidence offered by social scientists, including psychologists, suggests that ignoring mental health costs understate the negative effects of long-term unemployment.” 

Gainful employment contributes to positive emotional and general health for people with serious mental illness. Caminar’s Jobs Plus program has been providing evidence-based supported employment for over 30 years. The program works with each individual to find a job match and then provides job coaching support to ensure an individual's employment success. Jobs Plus offers job assessment, vocational training, skill development, support on resume writing, job application and interviewing skills. 

Caminar CEO, Mark Cloutier, says ,“Our Jobs Plus program connects people who would otherwise be excluded from the workplace with meaningful, paid jobs that offer hope and a sense of accomplishment.” 

In 2020, 685 young adults and adults received supportive services to build networks of support, resume their educations, or reenter the workforce. Employment can help improve stress and provide more dependable benefits for the clients.  

Click here to read some of our client stories.  

Black History Month and Behavioral Health Care

As we honor Black History Month and the significant contributions of Black Americans to our country, we also recognize the disparities in health care - and behavioral health - for Black Americans.

Statistics shared by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health include:

  • In 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Blacks or African Americans, ages 15 to 24.

  • The death rate from suicide for Black or African American men was four times greater than for African American women, in 2018.

  • The overall suicide rate for Black or African Americans was 60 percent lower than that of the non-Hispanic white population, in 2018.

  • Black females, grades 9-12, were 60 percent more likely to attempt suicide in 2019, as compared to non-Hispanic white females of the same age.

  • Poverty level affects mental health status. Black or African Americans living below the poverty level, as compared to those over twice the poverty level, are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress.

  • A report from the U.S. Surgeon General found that from 1980 - 1995, the suicide rate among African Americans ages 10 to 14 increased 233 percent as compared to 120 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

Behavioral health care plays a crucial role in reducing homelessness, incarcerations, and hospitalizations. It also bolsters people’s ability to engage with family, school, work, and primary care – and creates lasting economic and health benefits for individuals, families, and the community.

Inequity will not go away without access to behavioral health care for all. We can do better.

Save the Date: Caminar's Speakers Series

Please save the date!
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Caminar's Speakers Series
Virtual

On Tuesday, April 5, we will present our second Caminar's Speakers Series event, Revolutionizing Behavioral Healthcare: Putting racial equity at the heart of mental well-being. 

Frequent conference speaker with appearances on ABC’s 20/20, Dateline NBC, PBS, and The Oprah Winfrey Show, our keynote speaker is Kenneth V. Hardy, Ph.D.

Dr. Hardy is a clinical and organizational consultant at the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships in New York, NY, where he also serves as director. He provides racially-focused trauma-informed training, executive coaching, and consultation.  

Additional information and registration to follow soon. 

Join us as a sponsor!  Please see our sponsorship package here or for more information reach out to Joann Pak, jpak@caminar.org or 650.513.2020.

Art, Writing, and Music as Positive Coping Skills

Caminar’s Expressive Arts program, which was launched in 2014, brings the therapeutic power of the arts to clients in our San Mateo County residential homes through weekly workshops. Generously funded by Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Foundation since 2018, the program features teaching artists Michael Collopy and Maikel Garcia.

Together, Michael Collopy, a world-renowned photographer, and Maikel Garcia, a well-known Cuban jazz musician, bring art, music, humor, and joy to clients who are experiencing and recovering from behavioral health conditions. The workshops present art, writing, and music as positive coping mechanisms, outlining how creative expression can promote long-term mental wellness.

Please enjoy these works of art from recent Expressive Arts sessions.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On Monday, we honor the legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Dr. King courageously led the civil rights movement in the ’50s. Some of his many accomplishments include leading the Montgomery bus boycott, organizing the March on Washington and delivering his “I have a dream” speech, and receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for nonviolent resistance against racial prejudice.

It’s important that we continue to reflect on Dr. King’s accomplishments and teachings in order to continue the progress towards racial equity.

In Dr. King’s words, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We hope your holidays were restful and healthy. To kick off 2022, we wanted to offer some suggestions for some positive mental health resolutions:  

  • Make time for consistent self-care 

  • Create realistic goals for yourself  

  • Limit screentime  

  • Get a healthy amount of sleep  

  • Explore different hobbies  

  • Try out journaling  

  • Practice gratitude  

  • Seek mental health care if you need it  

We hope that you have a healthy and positive 2022! 

Mental Health Tips for the Holidays 

The holidays can be a very joyous, yet difficult time of the year. NAMI indicates that “64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse.” The temporary feelings are often called the “holiday blues.” It’s an important time to practice extra self-care and get the support you need.  

Here are some tips and resources to help maintain mental wellness during the holidays.

Tips 

  • Manage expectations  

  • Set aside time for self-care 

  • Write a gratitude list  

  • Spend quality time with friends and family  

  • Practice meditation  

  • Take a walk outside  

  • Continue with your healthy routines  

  • Get support  

Resources 

Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for coping 

Avoiding Holiday Stressors: Tips for a Stress-Free Season 

Holiday Self-Care Tips for LGBTQ Youth