G O A L S For Women

DESPITE A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR IN 15/16, G.O.A.L.S. HAS CONTINUED TO ACHIEVE MANY IMPORTANT PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND VALUED OUTCOMES BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEIR CHILDREN/FAMILIES WHO WERE AT RISK FOR SELF-HARM AND/OR OTHER SUICIDAL IDEATION BEHAVIORS SUCCESSFULLY STRENGTHENED OUR CAPACITY THROUGH INNOVATIVE STAFFING FLEXIBILITIES, LEADERSHIP SWEAT EQUITY, RECRUITMENT OF TEMPORARY CONTRACT SUPPORT AND VOLUNTEERS. WE ACHIEVED A 5% INCREASE IN SERVICES DELIVERED LARGELY DUE TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND HUMBLE COLLABORATIONS WITH TWO NEW SACRAMENTO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS AND TWO NEW FAITH COMMUNITIES NEAR THE OAK PARK, FOOTHILL FARMS AND DEL PASO HEIGHTS AREAS. SPECIFICALLY, WE: PROVIDED MORE TELEPHONE SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR MENTALLY DISRESSED OR OTHER CHILDREN LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. WE AND PROVIDED NECESSARY LINKAGES TO VARIOUS SERVICES USING APPROACHES KNOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING RISK FOR SUICIDE OR SELF HARM BEHAVIORS AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS FROM BECOMING MORE SEVERE AND DISABLING.WE TRAINED MORE CONTRACTED PEER SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATORS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THEY INCREASED ACCESS TO AT RISK HOMELESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH UNMET CULTURALLY SENSITIVE /SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH RELATED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.WE MAXIMIZED SOCIAL CAPITAL AND WORKED MORE INNOVATIVELY WITH STAFF IN SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY WHICH ENABLED AN INCREASE IN ACCESS TO SERVICES EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS. INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE LISTENING CIRCLES TO HELP ENSURE SERVICES WERE OF VALUE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS. INTERESTED IN COLLABORATION ENGAGED IN GREATER REFLECTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND RECRUITMENT NEEDS OF STAFF VITAL TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE / ACHIEVEOUR MISSION DRIVEN WORK AND OUTCOMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS VALUE.2). PROVIDED CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 530 SACRAMENTO COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEIR CHILDREN/FAMILIES. WE:WHO WERE AT RISK FOR SELF-HARM AND/OR E OTHER SUICIDAL IDEATION BEHAVIORS ADDRESSED CULTURAL RESILLIENCE AS PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR THOSE EXPOSED TO TOXIC STRESS, POVERTY, PERCEIVED RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION TRAUMA LINED TO THEIR SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN, MEN & BOYS (E.G. LAW ENFORCEMENT EXCESSIVE FORCE ENDING IN DEATH), ISOLATION, STIGMA, AND FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS AND HOPELESSNESS . INCREASED INDIVIDUAL & HIPPA COMPLIANT TELEPHONE SUPPORT AND TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THOSE REQUESTING ONE ON ONE SUPPORT INCLUDING TIMELY ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICE INFORMATION AND OTHER REFERRAL SERVICES. INCREASED OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT SERVICES TO VULNERABLE YOUTH WHOSE PARENTS STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR FAMILY MEMBERS STRUGGLE WITH STIGMA AS A BARRIER TO SEEKING HELP.INCREASED INFORMATION SHARING ON ISSUES OF PROTECTION OF HALTH RECORDS, CONFIDENTIAL HEALTH INFORMATION, PRIVACY RIGHTS, SELF DETERMINATION RELATED MATTERS, ETC.3). PROVIDED EVIDENCE-BASED/EVIDENCE INFORMED AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE THROUGH A CULTURAL COMPETENCE /CULTURAL HUMILITY LENS TO 144 CITY OF BERKELEY (SOUTH AND WEST BERKELEY AREA) AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RESIDING IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS RESIDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY.INCREASED LINKAGE AND SERVICES TO A NEW LOCAL CHURCH, NATURAL HELPERS IN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EXTENDED FAMILY NETWORKS. 4). IMPLEMENTED A NEW MIXED METHOD PROGRAM EVALUATION TOOLS TO HELP IMPROVE IMPACT MEASURES AND OUTCOMES SUCH AS TIMELY ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, ESPECIALLY FOR RESOURCES AND HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE, PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ARE STILL IN PROCESS OF REVIEW BUT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE STRENGTHENING OUR PROGRAM EVALUATION & TRAINING PROCESSES ARE LIKELY TO YIELD GOOD AND HELPFUL INFORMATION TO IMPROVE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. 2015/16S ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE REMARKABLE AND BROUGHT AN INCREASE IN "WORD-OF-MOUTH" REFERRALS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES, REFERRING OTHERS TO US. WITHIN THEIR NETWORKS. TO ENSURE SERVICES MEET OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS' NEEDS, WHILE DOING SO AS A FINANCIALLY VIABLE SMALL AFRICAN AMERICAN MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION AGENCY.DESPITE A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR WHERE COST REDUCTION WAS AGAIN THE HIGH PRIORITY ACROSS OUR BALANCE SHEET, GOALS STILL ACHIEVED MANY IMPORTANT PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND VALUED OUTCOMES BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS SUPPORTED. SPECIFICALLY WE: I). SUCCESSFULLY STRENGTHENED OUR CAPACITY THROUGH INNOVATIVE STAFFING COLLABORATIONS, LEADERSHIP SWEAT EQUITY, RECRUITMENT OF TEMPORARY CONTRACTOR SUPPORT AND VOLUNTEERS FOLLOWING AN EMERGENCY STAFF CAPACITY CHANGE AND UNEXPECTED STAFFING CHALLENGE. WE WERE STILL SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING MORE SERVICES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMPARED TO LAST FISCAL YEAR AS WE CONTINUE TO RECOVER FROM AN ALAMEDA COUNTY CALWORKS MENTAL HEALTH CONTRACT LOSS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED:AN OVERALL INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 15% IN SERVICES DELIVERED LARGELY DUE TO COLLABORATIONS WITH TWO NEW SACRAMENTO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS AND TWO NEW SACRAMENTO COUNTY FAITH COMMUNITIES NEAR THE OAK PARK, FOOTHILL FARMS AND DEL PASO HEIGHTS AREAS. WE PROVIDED MORE TELEPHONE SUPPORT TO PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR MENTALLY ILL CHILDREN AND PROVIDED NECESSARY LINKAGES TO VARIOUS SERVICES USING APPROACHES KNOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING RISK FOR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES BECOMING FULL-BLOWN DISORDERS.WE TRAINED MORE CONTRACTED PEER SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATORS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THEY INCREASED ACCESS TO AT RISK HOMELESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH UNMET MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.WE MAXIMIZED SOCIAL CAPITAL AND SWEAT EQUITY AMONG LEADERSHIP STAFF WHO FOUND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO KEEP ACCESS TO SERVICES AVAILABLE AND FLEXIBLE INCLUDING ON EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS. INCREASED BOARD AND LEADERSHIP STAFF SUPPORT BY PURSUING LISTENING CIRCLES TO HELP GAIN MORE INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTIVE AGENCIES. ENABLED GREATER REFLECTION ON THE TYPE OF RECRUITMENT, OF MORE QUALIFIED PT STAFF NEEDED TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION DRIVEN WORK AND RECOVERY/FORWARD MOVEMENT OF OUR WORK IN FY 16/17 AND BEYOND. OR WHEN OUR BUDGET ALLOWS. 2). PROVIDED CROSS-CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 530 SACRAMENTO COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEIR CHILDREN/FAMILIES WHO WERE AT RISK FOR SELF-HARM AND OTHER SUICIDAL IDEATION BEHAVIORS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION WAS TARGETED TO THOSE EXPOSED TO TOXIC STRESS, POVERTY, PERCEIVED RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION (LAW ENFORCEMENT EXCESSIVE FORCE ENDING IN DEATH AND FEAR OF THIS TREND ON IMPACT OF OTHERS), ISOLATION, STIGMA, AND FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS AND HOPELESSNESS . INCREASED INDIVIDUAL TELEPHONE SUPPORT AND TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE REQUESTING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES. INCREASED OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT SERVICES TO VULNERABLE YOUTH WITH PARENTS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND STIGMA AS A BARRIER TO SEEKING HELP AND YET PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIALITY RIGHTS WERE ALSO OFTEN ADDRESSED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 3). PROVIDED EVIDENCE-BASED, EVIDENCE INFORMED AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE THROUGH A CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND HUMILITY LENS TO 144 CITY OF BERKELEY (SOUTH AND WEST BERKELEY AREA AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RESIDING IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS RESIDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY.INCREASED LINKAGE AND SERVICES TO A NEW LOCAL CHURCH, NATURAL HELPERS IN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EXTENDED FAMILY NETWORKS. 4). IMPLEMENTED A NEW MIXED QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE SATISFACTION SURVEY TOOL TO HELP IMPROVE IMPACT MEASURES AND OUTCOMES SUCH AS TIMELY ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, ESPECIALLY FOR RESOURCES AND HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE, PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ARE STILL IN PROCESS OF REVIEW BUT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE STRENGTHENING OUR PROGRAM EVALUATION & TRAINING PROCESSES ARE LIKELY TO YIELD GOOD OUTCOMES (E.G. QUALITY OF TRAINING OUTCOMES OF PEER GROUP FACILITATOS). 2015S ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE REMARKABLE AND BROUGHT AN INCREASE IN "WORD-OF-MOUTH" REFERRALS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES, RECOMMENDING US TO OTHERS WITHIN THEIR NETWORKS. WE PLAN TO CONTINUE ON THIS PATH OF STRATEGIC COST EFFICIENCY AND IMPACT TO ENSURE SERVICES MEET OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS' NEEDS, FINANCIALLY SOUND INVESTMENTS AND THAT SERVICES ARE VALUED BY THE DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS NEEDING/WANTING SUPPORT.