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Community and Hope
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, foster hope, and break the stigma surrounding mental health challenges. Thanks to your support, individuals and families facing some of life's most difficult moments can find the care, connection, and resources they need to move forward. Your generosity helps make hope possible, empowering people to build stronger, healthier futures for themselves and their communities.
Teen Mental Health: A Personal Story, A Community's Answer
"Every young person struggling with their mental health deserves expert care, without having to wait, without fighting through insurance, and without shame. And that's not really a radical idea, but in practice, it's rare. That gap is something we must close together. The Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center - Palo Alto is our community's answer."
-Jo-Ann Sockolov, Caminar Board Chair
At the Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center - Palo Alto, we offer confidential, accessible, and competitively priced evidence-based, whole-person mental health services for teens and their families. Our licensed clinicians provide treatment and support for mild-to-moderate mental health concerns and life stressors. We help teens build emotional strength and resilience while guiding families through healthier communication and connection.
Learn more about The Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center and a very personal family journey to mental health and well-being in our new video.
Please watch the video below
September Workshops at the Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center
Supporting a young person's mental health can feel overwhelming, but families don't have to navigate it alone. This month marks the launch of our free workshop series at the Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center - Palo Alto, featuring September sessions on Addressing Anxiety in Your Teen and What Negative Thinking Actually Looks and Sounds Like. Available both in person and virtually, these workshops give parents and caregivers practical strategies, trusted guidance, and a supportive community to turn to.
Led by a licensed LMFT and certified trainers, these sessions provide practical tools, expert guidance, and strategies for supporting the young people in your life. Just as importantly, they offer a welcoming space to connect with other caregivers, share experiences, and find encouragement within a supportive community.
Sign up for September's workshops here.
Silicon Valley Pride Recap
Pride is more than a celebration. It's a year-round commitment to connection, belonging, and support. Caminar's LGBTQ+ Programs joined the Silicon Valley Pride festivities in August, connecting community members with vital resources, including harm reduction supplies, and sharing information about available services. If you didn't have a chance to stop by our booth, we'd love to welcome you at our Zanker Road location in San Jose.
To learn more about our LGBTQ Programs, please visit here.
Caminar in the News
New Mobile Unit in Contra Costa
Contra Costa News highlighted the newest mobile unit for the Concord Mobile Dignity Center. This is part of the $1.6 million project, a collaboration among the City of Concord, Caminar, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, and other community organizations. The new vehicle allows us to provide more nutritious meals to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and homelessness.
Please check out the full article and information on the ribbon cutting here.
Mark Cloutier in Palo Alto Online - Meta’s settlement money won’t save a single Palo Alto kid
Palo Alto Online posted an op-ed by Caminar CEO, Mark Cloutier, titled "Meta’s settlement money won’t save a single Palo Alto kid." In the op-ed, Mark Cloutier addresses the state of mental health for teens in Palo Alto amid the recent Meta settlement announcement. Although the new regulations and reparations are a step in the right direction, they don't solve today's pressing mental health issue.
We invite you to read the full op-ed here.
Caminar Awarded at the SJCC Addiction Treatment Works Recognition Dinner
San Jose City College's (SJCC) Addiction Treatment Works Recognition Dinner was held on Friday, September 4, 2026. Hosted by the SJCC Alcohol and Drug Studies (ADS) Advisory Board, the event brought together community partners and behavioral health professionals to recognize outstanding counselors, agencies, interns, and leaders in the substance use treatment field.
We are especially proud that Caminar received three awards:
These awards reflect our team's dedication, professionalism, and commitment. They also highlight Caminar’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of substance use treatment professionals through meaningful internship and training opportunities.
Impact!
We are pleased to share our Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Impact Report. Thank you for joining Caminar’s mission to build strength and stability through comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment delivered through evidence-based, whole-person care. You are helping to build thriving lives and supportive, uplifting communities!
Recent Educational and Thought Leadership Resources
Why I Donate
- A Caminar Donor
Ways to Give
Become a Safety Net monthly sustaining donor and join our effort to empower and support individuals today.
Donate online or by mail:
Caminar Development
411 Borel Ave, Ste 101
San Mateo, CA 94402
Become a SAFETY NET SUSTAINING MEMBER by making a monthly contribution in any amount
Make a lasting impact by including Caminar as part of YOUR LEGACY - email mcloutier@caminar.org (all inquiries are confidential)
