Wildflower Collective

THE WILDFLOWER COLLECTIVE (TWC) EFFECTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, PROVIDING EDUCATION AND DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES THAT FACILITATED BROAD MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, REFERRALS, RESOURCES, SUPPLIES, AND PILOT PROJECTS WITHIN FRESNO. THROUGH DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED TWC HAD OVER 100 ENCOUNTERS OF SUPPORT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHICH INCLUDED PEER SUPPORT SERVICES AND HARM REDUCTION EDUCATION THROUGH TELEPHONE CALLS, INSTANT MESSAGES, AND DIGITAL ZOOM WHERE THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO OFFER SUPPORT THROUGH ACTIVELY LISTENING, SHARING OF RESOURCES, ESTABLISHING GOALS AND PLANS OF ACTION, PROVIDING WELLNESS CHECKS, PRAYER, REFERRALS, AND CRISIS CARE SUPPORT. TWC WAS ALSO ABLE TO HOST DIGITAL EVENTS WHERE CREATIVE ARTS WERE USED AS A MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT METHOD. THROUGH STREET OUTREACH, TWC EFFECTIVELY DISTRIBUTED ESSENTIAL SELF-CARE, BASIC NEEDS, PPE, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS VIA BLOOMING KITS AND SNACK PACKS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED, PRIMARILY TO THE UNHOUSED AND AT ENCAMPMENT SITES. EDUCATION WAS ALSO PROVIDED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AN E-MAIL NEWSLETTER, AND ATTENDANCE AT LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL MEETINGS WITH ALLIES, STAKEHOLDERS, AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS. THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS TWC WAS ABLE TO CONDUCT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS THROUGH DIGITAL AND STREET OUTREACH AND SHARE INFORMATION OBTAINED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS. TWC WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, PROJECTS, AND RESOURCES FROM A WHOLE-PERSON, HOLISTIC FRAMEWORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE FRESNO FOOD SECURITY NETWORK, CENTRAL VALLEY HARM REDUCTION, CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, FAITH IN THE VALLEY, FRESNO INTERFAITH ALLIANCE, WE ARE NOT INVISIBLE, NATIONAL HARM REDUCTION COALITION, AND NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH VENDING COLLABORATIVE. TWC PARTICIPATED IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOR PERSON AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED SOLUTIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CONCERNS THROUGH ADVOCACY, PRESENTATIONS, AND DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ENTITIES INCLUDING THE CITY OF FRESNO, THE SELF-HELP AND RECOVERY EXCHANGE (SHARE) AND CAMHPRO, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PEER-RUN ORGANIZATIONS. WITH THE SUPPORT OF ANTHEM INSURANCE COMPANY TWC WAS ABLE TO FACILITATE AND SUPPORT A PILOT PROJECT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE FIRST HARM REDUCTION VENDING MACHINE IN FRESNO IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FRESNO PUBLIC HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. TWC SOLICITED AND PROVIDED DONATIONS OF BASIC NEEDS ITEMS, PPE, CLOTHING, AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN SERVICE TO MARGINALIZED GROUPS INCLUDING THE MARJORIE MASON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AND THE FRESNO LGBTQIA+ CENTER.