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.

Fostering Youth Mental Health Webinar on October 5

Please join us for a live, free, online event: Fostering Youth Mental Health: Building Hope and Resilience in Uncertain Times with David Feldman, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Santa Clara University

Thursday, October 5, 2023
5:30pm – 6:30 pm PT
Register now!

In this special presentation, clinical health psychologist David B. Feldman, PhD, will discuss coping strategies and healthy habits in support of children and teens.

As a community, we want our youth to become more hopeful, more resilient, and better able to handle life's uncertainties. Considered one of the nation’s foremost experts on hope, Dr. Feldman's research has addressed such topics as hope, meaning, and growth in the face of highly stressful circumstances. He will be joined by Mark Cloutier, MPP, MPH, Chief Executive Officer at Caminar.

Parents/caregivers, students, educators, mental health professionals, and community members are welcome and admission is free.

This event is sponsored by Caminar, in partnership with The Parent Venture.

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MA, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture (The Parent Education Series)

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Awareness Month

In September, we recognize Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Awareness Month, a time to promote understanding of community culture and heritage and raise awareness around accessibility.

Worldwide, millions of people are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, and it is important to note that although there are similarities in physical conditions, life experiences and identities vary. For example, a person who was born Deaf can have a different understanding of their identity than a person who became deaf later in life. 

Deaf, with a capital D, refers to a group of people who share a language (ASL) and similar life experiences that extend far beyond not hearing. This community does not know a world with sound but instead one with expressive communication and pride-inducing traditions and values. 

Hard-of-Hearing is a widely-accepted term to describe someone with mild to moderate hearing loss. Hard-of-Hearing people can have a sense of belonging to both Deaf and hearing communities, or just one, or neither. At times, this community can have a challenging time establishing a cultural or social identity. Still, more often than not, they are in allyship with Deaf people. 

There are many ways that hearing people can support individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. One of the most effective ways is to learn and use American Sign Language (ASL) or other forms of visual communication, like captioning and staying in eyesight for lip reading. We can also enhance accessibility accommodations, such as providing ASL interpreters and closed captioning for online videos, public spaces, and live events. These adaptations play a crucial role in enhancing inclusion and accessibility for individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.

It is also essential to recognize societal barriers that can contribute to the marginalization of people who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. By advocating for better access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities and improving access to assistive technology and services such as hearing aids, we can start to empower - rather than marginalize - people who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. 

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness and understanding around a community that is often misperceived. By learning about deafness and hearing loss, ensuring accommodations, and advocating for a more inclusive society, hearing people can work alongside Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people to create a more accessible and equitable world for everyone.

It is important to realize that there is a great deal of pride amongst Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Often people aren’t aware of how embraced being Deaf is and the vibrance and collaborativeness of the community. In fact, sharing information and resources among community members is a prevalent practice to collectively enrich each other's quality of life. For example, in Deaf culture it is appropriate to talk openly about money, personal issues, physical appearance, and more. Hearing people may perceive these unfiltered practices as frank but for Deaf people this is socially acceptable since the intent is to express interest and support.     

Still, the impact of deafness and hearing loss on individuals can be significant, amongst other circumstances. For some, communication can become challenging, leading to social isolation. Notably, 90% of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children are born to hearing parents and a caregivers' willingness to learn ASL can have a significant impact on a child. In the workplace, individuals may face barriers to communication and opportunities for advancement. However, if preventative equitable measures are acknowledged and honored, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people can lead lives free of anxiety and depression. This makes accessibility, an invested support system, and understanding from hearing people essential to combating avoidable mental health conditions. 

At Caminar, we are committed to providing comprehensive behavioral health services to all community members, including individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. Our Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing program of licensed professionals assists Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals with various concerns, including depression, anxiety, daily stressors, trauma, communication skills, self-esteem, social skills, parenting, healthy relationships, grief and loss, and severe mental illness. Program participants can access therapy, rehabilitation counseling, case management, psychiatry, and medication support services. Caminar opens its doors to individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and wants them to know that here they can receive the support and care they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

We encourage all people to engage with educational content this month and broaden their understanding of a community that inspires our work. 

Please enjoy this joke that was shared with us by our Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Program staff. 

Bob's House - Deaf joke - Pepsi's Super Bowl Ad

CONTACT INFO 
Deaf/ Hard-of-Hearing Program 
video phone 669.236.3509
tel 408.292.9353 


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.