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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Last week, our CEO, Mark Cloutier was interviewed live on ABC 7 about a recent survey by Blue Cross on youth mental health. Of the 1,300 youth surveyed, 87% report mental health struggles.
We invite you to watch the 4-minute segment here.
SFGate recently reported that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors finalized contracts for two facilities that will be run out of the new Cordilleras Health and Healing Campus near Redwood City. Caminar was awarded one of the two contracts, which will run from October of this year through June 2026. Please read the full article here.
The Daily Republic recently wrote about Solano County Board of Supervisor actions, including approval of Solano County Behavioral Health Division contracts. Two of the five approved contracts are for Caminar, and are renewals of existing programs. Please read the entire Daily Republic article here.
The Daily Republic wrote about the ribbon-cutting ceremony for an affordable housing project in Vallejo. The project, Blue Oak Landing, features 75 new, high-quality rental homes for lower-income households and those experiencing homelessness. Caminar and Solano County Behavioral Health Services will offer services at the location. Please read the entire Daily Republic article here.
Our CEO, Mark Cloutier, was featured on Telemundo 48 on Friday, August 5, to discuss Contingency Management, a program Santa Clara County is looking to launch in the next few weeks.
Contingency Management is an evidence-based practice of using incentives for substance use treatment.
Please watch the interview, which is translated into Spanish with a voice-over, here.
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.
Our director of our LGBTQ Programs recently spoke with The San Jose Mercury News about the increasing number of California bills focused on gender identity.
Adrienne Keel, the director of programs at the LGBTQ Youth Space in San Jose, used to coordinate a support group for young people at the city’s Independence High School. For years, Keel said, students would tell her that the group was not just the only reason they came to school — it was the only reason they got out of bed that morning.
“Having a safe adult at school is everything,” said Keel. “If young people do not have confidential spaces where they can talk about how they’re feeling, that has devastating impacts.”
Please read the entire article here.
Our director of our LGBTQ Programs recently spoke with San Jose Spotlight about a petition circulating that demands the San Jose School District support LGBTQ students.
Adrienne Keel, director of LGBTQ programs for mental health nonprofit Caminar, said schools can be the only safe space for students who can’t turn to their families. Yet, districts are reluctant to make public statements or support LGBTQ students for fear of backlash from community members who don’t share the same views, Keel added.
“What is being proposed (in the petition) is, for me, pretty low-hanging fruit in terms of what schools should be doing,” Keel told San José Spotlight. “Schools have a lot of power… They’re not exclusively academic spaces."
Please read the entire article, which includes more quotes from Adrienne.
