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A Crisis of Humanity
(Note from Executive Director: CAMHPRO continues to advocate for the peer voice in all aspects of mental health policy at the state level. With a strong stance of opposition to Senate Bill 326 and 43, CAMHPRO has been present at hearings and representing our members in meetings with legislators and policy makers to voice concerns and to offer solutions and changes. Most recently, CAMHPRO, as part of the Peers Advocating for Rights and Recovery (PARR) coalition, joined in a convening on Aug. 22 for hearings about Senate Bill 326. PARR partners, including CalVoices, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of California, Mental Health America of California, California Youth Empowerment Network, and Disability Rights California, invited peers from across the state to join at the event in solidarity with t-shirts and speaking up during the hearings. Groups met in front of the Capitol building throughout the day to support each other and to network. Katy Sommerfeld, CAMHPRO Office Administrator, participated in the event and was later invited to be a witness at a hearing the following week. This is a story of her experience and observations.)
Published on: 09/06/2023 | Category: Announcements Mental Health
CAMHPRO in Washington D.C.
CAMHPRO Executive Director Andrea Wagner joined some 30 other peer leaders from organizations across the U.S. for Hill Day 2023 with the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, July 10-13, in Washington D.C.
Published on: 07/31/2023 | Category: Articles
Why Won't They Listen?
We want to speak out and make change. Why is that so hard to do?
At this year’s LEAD Peer Statewide Conference, more than 400 people showed up in person and another almost 200 online to do just that. Hundreds of people from every region of the state were in one place with many people lining up to take the microphone. They spoke for hours at the open mic in the advocacy exhibition. Dozens lined up near the stage to speak after listening to 10 state advocacy leaders talk about the looming threats to gut the Mental Health Services Act and destroy our mental health funding at the county levels. The next day even more people swarmed toward the microphone who had gotten up early to hear from Senator Weiner. The senator showed up late and only had time to hear two comments after he spoke.
Published on: 06/30/2023 | Category: Articles
Plan Ahead and Schedule a Meeting with Your Legislator
The LEAD Program is hard at work building a great conference for our peers in Sacramento from June 12-13, 2023. In preparation of more conference attendees than ever before, we’ve pivoted our legislative advocacy to take place at the conference site.
Published on: 04/19/2023 | Category: Articles
Wellness Recovery Centers: “Where everybody knows your name”
A few months ago I wrote about Sacramento County’s new Adult Outpatient Services Transformation: Community Outreach Recovery Empowerment (CORE) Program. According to the website, there are now 7 open, there will be 11 in total. The organizations that got contracts for these new Outpatient Mental Health Programs and co-located Wellness Centers are: El Hogar(2), Turning Point(3), Hope Cooperative(3) and Bay Area Community Services(3).However, there has been some confusion regarding the status of our community's Wellness Recovery Centers (WRC).
Published on: 03/28/2023 | Category: Mental Health
As Much Time Out as In
Many in the Peer Community know me for two things: being involved with music and being dedicated to destigmatizing the experiences of hearing voices, seeing things others don’t, special messages etc. that are usually labeled as “psychosis.” I am very open with sharing my story and can get candid about many of the difficulties I’ve faced in my life. However, there is a big part of my story I tend to skip over in public spaces. I was in an abusive relationship for seven years, from the year 2008 until 2015.
Published on: 03/03/2023 | Category: Articles Mental Health
Another Perspective: Intentional Peer Support
I recently attended the Soteria introductory webinar on Intentional Peer Support (IPS). Intentional Peer Support is a way of thinking about and inviting transformative relationships. Practitioners learn to use relationships to see things from new angles, develop greater awareness of personal and relational patterns, and support and challenge each other in trying new things.
Published on: 03/03/2023 | Category: Articles
CAMHPRO Announces Two New Programs
CalHOPE Support Program for Butte County
CAMHPRO was awarded funding to expand the CalHOPE support program into our local county to create peer support groups for people struggling through the aftermath of the pandemic and other traumatic events and natural disasters.
Published on: 03/03/2023 | Category: Announcements
Peer Certification Update
It has been two years since the passing of Senate Bill 803, and more than a year since CAMHPRO started the Peer Empowerment Partnership (PEP) to assist in peer involvement in the rollout of California’s first certification program for Peer Support Specialists.
Published on: 11/29/2022
The Coldest Night Ever
**Warning - this article may be triggering.**
As I think about my coldest night, shivers run down my spine. I will never forget the rainy night of December 26, 2002, while incarcerated at Central California's Womens facility. I was escorted in shackles to Administrative Segregation, also known as "The Hole". After my experience, I understand how it gained its name because no matter which institution, it's a "DEEP DARK HOLE".
Published on: 11/28/2022 | Category: Articles
Global Peer Support Celebration Day
Have you celebrated Peer Support Specialists or other peers today? Global Peer Support Celebration Day is Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. Started by the National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS) in 2014, this is the 8th annual event that happens every third Thursday in October.
Published on: 10/19/2022 | Category: Articles
Expanding our online footprint
Welcome to month two of our newly revised monthly newsletter! The interactive newsletter tied to our website is one of many updates and changes we are making at CAMHPRO. We hope to continue Sally’s (our founder’s) legacy and vision advocating for peers and a mental health system without forced treatment by maintaining the level of programs CAMHPRO has offered so far.
Published on: 10/04/2022 | Category: Press Release
You Never Expect a Hero to Die
Sally Zinman, a pioneer in the mental health Peer Movement, is a superhero to many in California and across the United States. She is the founding director of CAMHPRO and the guiding force behind its advocacy and structure since the nonprofit was formed some 10 years ago. Sally has worked for 45 years for inclusion of people with lived experience in every aspect of mental health programs and services.
Published on: 08/30/2022 | Category: Articles
LEAD Program Advocacy Projects
An important component of the LEAD Program is creating on-going advocacy work which is generated through community participation in local Listening Sessions and Summit. We are happy and excited to report on the work of our year one advocacy partner organizations which are continuing projects and programs inspired by the LEAD activities and outcomes.
Published on: 08/30/2022 | Category: Articles