As we acknowledge July as BIPOC, (Minority) Mental Health Awareness Month, we at NAMI CC are determined to identify and address the challenges faced by ethnic and cultural communities. We recognize that inadequate funding, poor access, and few referral options to respectfully and appropriately meet both the non-clinical and clinical mental health needs of Contra Costa County’s African American community members is a social justice issue. One-size-fits-all approaches that don’t consider culture and the many harms that African Americans have experienced due to systemic racism have created significant challenges for this population. African American residents often do not receive culturally responsive non-clinical and clinical mental health services.
Our NAMI CC African American Team recently lost significant California Department of Health Care Services (California DHCS) funding through the CalHOPE grant. We recently experienced massive lay-offs and a reduction in work hours to retain the dedicated African American team members who are still with us. As such, the African American Team has stretched themselves thin to fill the gaps in care by offering non-clinical lifesaving support locally and throughout the state of California. However, without appropriate financial support for our nonclinical services, the African American Community will continue to be grossly neglected. We do not receive any specific funding to address the needs of African Americans through our Contra Costa County Community Engagement Program contract, despite the knowledge carried by all, that African Americans living with a mental illness are the most harmed.
At NAMI CC, we understand that if one community suffers, all communities feel the pain. We closely monitor mental health needs of all residents of this county, examine trends, as well as solicit and receive input from those we serve, staff/volunteers and other like-minded partners. Our decisions are made from this collected data from each County department, as well as our statewide work with CalHOPE.
African Americans make up less than 10% of the population in Contra Costa County, yet African American males typically make up over 40% of the county’s mental health criminal justice population.
African Americans also have a 5-7 year delay in receiving a mental health diagnosis. Both of these issues sadly result in African Americans being criminalized for living with what is a medical condition and rarely receive the services needed to improve outcomes.
70% of all juveniles incarcerated in this county have documented mental illness and the bulk of these young people are African American.
African Americans continue to make up the largest population of those who living with behavioral health challenges and are unsheltered in Contra Costa County. Our attempts to get specific funding for this group have been unsuccessful.
With no money in our budget to address the non-clinical needs of African Americans/Black Americans in our county and the tireless efforts of volunteers and talented staff, we have managed to support a highly diverse and inappropriately served African American Community. We want to make sure that like other groups, those from the African American Community seeking mental health services can always reach out to a Peer or Family Member who share their lived experience. African American Contra Costa residents need to know how valuable they are to our community, and we want to make that a reality.
A testimony from a local Contra Costa County African American resident underscores the great need for African American cultural support. Earlier this year, we facilitated a Mental Health 101 Training for African Americans at Easter Hill Church in Richmond. The following comes from a mom who was in attendance:
In the past, I have reached out to several county programs and received no results. My son lives with depression, anxiety, and has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. He, like many who live with severe mental illness, denies the need for help. However, he does not live a fulfilling life and spends most of his time alone. After attending the training, I was able to connect with a NAMI CC staff member for the African American team and have utilized their ethnic specific resources. I can get support from their African American Family Support Group and my son has agreed and followed through with enrolling in the Peer-to-Peer course which gives him the tools he needs to better understand his mental illness and more importantly connect with others who understand. He is now more eager to connect to his purpose and create a plan for his life that better fulfills him. This has resulted in improvement in both his and my own mental health.
NAMI CC relies on the generosity of individuals like you to continue our work. Our goal for July through October is to raise $100,000 through this campaign to better meet the behavioral health needs of the Black community. All donations are tax-deductible and can be made by visiting our website (www.namicontracosta.org/donate), sending payment directly to our Chase Account through Zelle (510-990-2670), or by mailing a check to: 2151 Salvio Street. Ste. V, Concord, CA 94520, which will allow NAMI CC to continue its mission:
To provide support, outreach, education and advocacy to individuals, families, and the broader community impacted by mental illness.
Sincerely,
Gigi R. Crowder, Chief Executive Officer
La Tanyua Brown-Thompson, NAMI CC Board of Directors President
NAMI CC General Meeting Speaker Series: Free and Open to the Public
Creating a Recovery-Focused Path in Schizophrenia: Relapse Prevention Strategies
Meeting Information
This meeting was held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. There is no recording available for this meeting because of unique conditions from our speaker. We wish you were there!
Speaker
Debbi Fox-Davis, Director, Patient Engagement and Advocacy
Meeting Description
This monthly General Meeting Speaker Series presentation “Creating a Recovery-Focused Path in Schizophrenia: Relapse Prevention Strategies” by Debbi Fox-Davis is designed to be an interactive presentation with opportunities for conversation and questions. During this interactive presentation, we will discuss the symptoms and stages of schizophrenia. Then, we’ll go into more detail on the nature of relapse to learn about the impacts of relapses and strategies for preventing relapses. This will lead to a more general discussion on different ways to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia including an explanation of what long acting injectables are and who they may be right for.
Debbi Fox-Davis joined Teva Pharmaceuticals in 2023 as the Director of Patient Engagement and Advocacy for North American Medical Affairs after a 25-year career in leadership and resource development roles in nonprofits. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director for HD Reach, a patient advocacy organization serving people impacted by Huntington’s Disease where she expanded the scope of the services to reach people throughout the US. She has also served as the Executive Director for Dress for Success of the Triangle and the Director of Development and External Relations for NC State University. In addition to working for nonprofit organizations, she has served on several Board of Directors and volunteers in her community. Debbi received her MBA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (Monterey, CA) and her BA in history from George Mason University (Fairfax, VA).
Questions, Comments, and Closed Captioning
If you have questions or comments for our speakers during the presentation, you may contact Gigi Crowder at gigi@namicontracosta.org.
Closed Caption Translation is available in various languages for any of NAMI CC’s General Meetings on ZOOM. Attendees can select the language of their choosing. RSVP to gigi@namicontracosta.org by August 21, 2025 if you require audio language translation.
Written by Isabella Pacho, a NAMI CC 2025 Summer Intern.
What alternatives to incarceration exist for individuals who are impacted by mental illness, such as peers? This post explores options and pathways to support wellness outside of the prison system.
Table of Contents
Jails and prisons were never meant to act as mental health facilities, yet today they contain more people who have mental illnesses than psychiatric hospitals. Throughout the United States, individuals are placed into incarceration systems with behaviors that are symptoms of untreated mental illnesses but are mistaken for criminal intent. The incarceration system fails to acknowledge the burden this has on law enforcement, the punishment of an individual’s vulnerability, and the lack of promoting rehabilitation. With this flawed system comes advocacy and change. However, alternatives to incarceration are growing, prioritizing treatment over punishment. Examples include crisis response teams, peer-led programs, and mental health courts in this growing movement. In this post, I will discuss how mental health intersects with the criminal “injustice” system and alternatives to healing over handcuffs.
Mental Health Intervention Services
There are two alternatives to incarceration within Mental Health Intervention Services. One alternative is Crisis Response Teams, also known as CRTs. This is a specialized unit that offers a health over law enforcement approach to intervention and responding to mental health emergencies. Those involved include a team of Peer Support Specialists (PSS), Mental Health Specialists, EMTs, and more. This group of trained specialists handle de-escalation and trauma informed care as opposed to use of force and/or arrests.
Another alternative to incarceration is Diversion Programs, also considered Pre-Arrest. Diversion Programs serve as an alternative to arrests, where law enforcement redirects individuals to support services. In fact, people who are having a mental health crisis do not have an intent to commit a crime but have unmet mental health needs. Supportive services include treatment of mental health symptoms, recovery programs (substance use), peer support, housing support, and case management.
The goal of Mental Health Intervention Services is to not charge someone, and if charged, drop the charge should their selected program be completed. Though designed with good intent, these Mental Health Intervention Service programs are still a work in progress. Some areas where I think they could be improved include expanding services to 24/7 care, integrating cultural competence and language access, funding for training, linking between 911 and 988 lines to dispatchers, opening up access to more location services, and integrating consistent police discretion training.
According to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, “Diversion was found to be particularly effective for people charged with felony drug sales and violent crimes. People charged with drug sales were 19.9% less likely to recidivate and people charged with violent crimes were 17.5% less likely to recidivate after two years…Young people who completed the program were 66% less likely to recidivate after 3 years.” [12] Mental Health Intervention Services are useful because these interventions result in less jail overcrowding, improvement of public health and safety, reduced incarceration for mental illness, trust between law enforcement and marginalized communities, decreased repeat offenses, and treatment is cheaper than incarceration.
Rehabilitation Programs
More jurisdictions are realizing that mental illness is a health issue and not a crime. Because of this, Mental Health Courts are on the rise. These are specialized problem solving courts focused on keeping individuals out of jail and into supervised treatment plans. They still address the root cause of criminal behavior and hold the individual accountable, which often supports an individual with an untreated mental health disorder or illness getting the help, support, or treatment they need.
To be eligible to partake in mental health court, there are a few criteria needed. The first two criteria: one, an individual must be diagnosed with a serious mental illness, and two, they must be facing a non-violent misdemeanor or felony charge. On the other hand, the last two criteria are as follows: the individual must voluntarily agree to participate in the program, or there must be a clear connection between their mental health condition and the offense. During the court process, a team of mental health professionals, prosecutors, public defenders, a judge, case specialists, and sometimes Peer Support Specialists are present during trial. The individual is given a court-ordered treatment plan. If the individual completes and graduates from their plan, they could be granted a reduction or dismissal of charges, no incarceration, or even a sealed or expunged record.
Some benefits to mental health courts include instead of punishment, individuals are offered treatment options, promoting recovery and stability. There is a reduction in recidivism, which is returning to jail or prison. Individuals save money in court and long-term costs of jail. Plus, individuals are seen as humans, not just an offender with a number. However, there are limitations to this service. First, there are a limited number of jurisdictions that offer mental health courts, and those that do have limited capacity. Individuals with prior offenses are excluded from these courts. Clinical expectations and court rules are difficult to navigate for many who are not familiar with the system. Additionally, race and socioeconomic background affects access to mental health courts. Studies from the Consulting Psychology Journal finds that “Black and Latinx defendants are less likely to be referred to or accepted into mental health courts compared to white defendants, even when controlling for diagnosis and offense type” (Finkelman & Lopez, 2012).
Community Housing Services and Support Groups
Community-Based Treatment is offering mental health services to individuals residing in non-clinical settings, such as drop in centers or outpatient clinics. Supportive Housing offers affordable housing with mental health services, such as peer support, psychiatric care and therapy, substance use counseling, support in education and employment, and training through life skills. These approaches break the vicious cycle of recidivism, offering a long term alternative to housing stability and mental health services within local communities. Such services stop the “revolving door” effect where individuals cycle through the pattern of arrest, incarceration, and homelessness.
Factors that limit community-based treatment services from being offered include having limited access to housing and being placed on a waitlist. Funding is also an issue, as is the stigma and oppression around individuals with a criminal history.
For the future, I would suggest a track system where individuals can be placed in community based treatment and supportive housing as a route from mental health courts or jails and prisons. Peer Support Specialists are making the field of mental health transformative. These are individuals who have lived experience within incarceration, substance use, and mental illness and are trained to support individuals who are struggling with similar challenges as them. The services they offer are non-clinical and are built on a relationship of mutual respect, empathy, and trust. These individuals are essential to connecting with those who need mental health support and guidance in a system that oppresses them and doesn’t make it easy for them to have access to services.
Technology Based Interventions
A technological way of receiving psychiatric and/or therapy services is through Telehealth and Virtual Therapy. These services are useful for incarcerated individuals who have been recently released from jails or prisons and are going through court proceedings. Accessing Telehealth reduces the stigma of receiving mental health treatment, reduces costs of transportation to a clinic, and beats the clinical wait time lines. Individuals can receive these services through video calls, phone calls, and secure messaging. For example, an incarcerated individual who has a mental illness is attending mental health court. That individual can join their therapy sessions online and wouldn’t have to miss any of their in-person appointments and deadlines.
Another alternative to incarceration is Electronic Monitoring, such as ankle monitors. Incarcerated individuals are supervised through GPS tracking, while still being able to hold some freedoms within a radius.
One more alternative I would like to highlight are Hot Lines and Warm Lines, which are great for diverting individuals’ needs away from law enforcement and toward mental health care. Crisis Hotlines offer immediate support to individuals 24/7 and are composed of crisis counselors and trained professionals. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a nationwide service used throughout the United States. Warmlines are non-emergency phone calls that offer support to individuals who speak to a trained Peer Support Specialist before a crisis happens. A trained PSS offers emotional support, active listening, and resources. An example of this is NAMI Contra Costa’s Warmline, which offers support and resources to the Contra Costa community. To access NAMI Contra Costa’s office, call (925) 942-0767.
Conclusion/Takeaways
The criminal legal system has become the largest mental health provider in the U.S., often punishing individuals for untreated symptoms rather than offering support. In response, communities are embracing alternatives that prioritize care over incarceration. Programs like crisis response teams, pre-arrest diversion, and mental health courts focus on treatment, accountability, and recovery instead of jail time. Community-based treatment, supportive housing, and peer-led services offer long-term stability and help break the cycle of recidivism. Technology-based tools like telehealth, electronic monitoring, and hotlines further expand access to timely and compassionate care. While challenges like limited funding, access, and stigma remain, these approaches reflect a growing shift toward a more humane, health-centered justice system. With continued investment and reform, we can create a future where people receive the help they need–not handcuffs. NAMI Contra Costa is involved in supporting mental health treatment over incarceration by showing support in the community; attending local court hearings and trials for individuals in the community when injustice is present. I advocate that people should join us to advocate for decriminalizing mental health care because no one should be punished for experiencing a mental illness; instead, they deserve compassion, support, and access to treatment.
A Special Thank You to Our Donors for the month of June, 2025.
The San Francisco Foundation, Pablo Benavente, Anonymous, Ayesha Corio, Zach Meyer, Cory Liguore, Danville Congregational Church, Mark Cohen, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 E.d.i. Inc., Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 Black Caucus, Anonymous, Anonymous, Kathy Biddick, Josue Guillen, and Margaret Robbins.
Please be advised that the NAMI CC (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Contra Costa) office will close early on July 15th at 4 PM in of our Mental Health 101 for LGBTQ+ communities event. Read more about it here:
If you have any concerns on July 15th after our office closes, please do not hesitate to call us at (925) 942-0767. Though the office will be closed earlier than usual, we will resume operations on July 16th as usual.
We are pleased to share the success of the Mental Health 101 training session hosted on May 24, 2025, by the African American Innovation Team of NAMI Contra Costa, in collaboration with Easter Hill United Methodist Church and its host pastor, Dr. Dale Weatherspoon.
This informative event brought together community members and caregivers from the western region of Contra Costa who have family members, congregation members, and community members impacted with mental health challenges. The training was skillfully led by NAMI CC CEO Gigi Crowder, the creator and founder of the Mental Health 101 curriculum. The session aimed to provide attendees with crucial knowledge and resources relevant to mental health within the African American community.
The “Mental Health 101” training plays a vital role in increasing awareness about mental health and fostering collaboration with spiritual leaders and faith-based organizations to support those navigating these difficulties. Participants gained insights into community-defined strategies and advanced techniques to better assist individuals impacted by mental health challenges and to actively dispel stigma. This initiative was very successful in encouraging the Pastors, Faith Leaders, and Health Ministry Members, equipping them all to step into roles as mental health first responders, thereby cultivating “Mental Health Friendly Congregations” that offer essential support for individuals on their wellness journeys.
Attendees also had the opportunity to share their personal experiences and enjoy uplifting entertainment provided by local Psalmist Mrs. Ashley Cobbs-Thompson. The event also included a complimentary lunch and an engaging raffle with prizes. Upon completion of the training, each participant received a certificate recognizing them as a “Mental Health Ambassador.”
In addition to the training, NAMI Contra Costa’s training facilitator informed the participants of the work they are doing within the county, emphasizing the significant county initiatives, notably the “40 Voices Campaign,” which has been pivotal in advocating for funding for the African American Holistic Wellness Hub, and also highlighted our ongoing commitment to amplifying the voices of African American males within our community.
By La Tanyua Brown-Thompson, NAMI Contra Costa Board of Directors President
Breaking the Silence: The Reality of Mental Health in BIPOC Communities
Each July, National BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month offers a chance to raise awareness, foster dialogue, and spotlight the deep-rooted disparities that continue to affect People of Color across the United States. But for those of us living this reality every day, it’s more than just a month. It’s a fight for equity, dignity, and healing in a system not built by us or for us.
For many BIPOC individuals, mental health is more than a diagnosis. It’s a layered experience shaped by cultural expectations, generational trauma, limited access to care, and economic barriers. It’s living in a world that stigmatizes both your skin and your struggle.
In many of our cultures, mental health is not a topic openly discussed. Instead, it’s misunderstood, minimized, or even ignored. We are told to “pray it away,” “toughen up,” or that “what happens in this house stays in this house.” But silence does not heal wounds; it deepens them.
For countless BIPOC individuals, one of the most significant barriers to mental health care is financial. Many cannot afford therapy, counseling, or mental health treatment, let alone find culturally competent providers. And even when help is available, the chances of finding someone who looks like us and who understands our lived experience are scarce.
Stigma in BIPOC communities doesn’t come from one direction; it comes from many. We are stigmatized for needing help, for being “too emotional,” for speaking up, and for showing weakness. And on top of that, we face external stigma from a society that already marginalizes our voices.
This double stigma, internal and external, keeps many of us suffering in silence.
This Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we have a collective opportunity and responsibility to ignite change. Discuss mental health in your social circles. And if you need support, reach out because you are not alone.
Let’s break the silence, break the stigma, and begin the work of healing together.
Join us for a Mental Health 101 session designed for the LGBTQ+ community!
This event is designed to provide information about mental health, what it is and is not, and how it manifests in the LGBTQ+ community.
We will discuss community-defined strategies and advance our efforts to partner with churches as they commit to being LGBTQ+ affirming, Mental Health-Friendly Congregations, etc.
Our office will close early at 4 PM for this event.
Time & Location
When: Tuesday, July 15th, 5 PM – 8 PM
Where: Danville Congregational Church at 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Danville, CA 94526 and online.
Zoom Link Information
Topic: Mental Health 101 – Danville Congregational Church Time: Jul 15, 2025 05:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Please be advised that the NAMI CC (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Contra Costa) office will be closed tomorrow morning, July 8th, until 12 PM in support of the California Coalition for Care in advocating for the Oakley Delta Road Project.
We ask that you join us tomorrow at 9:00 AM for the hearing at the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Meeting, 1025 Escobar St., Martinez, CA. Join us virtually, if not in-person, by Zoom (https://cccounty-us. zoom.us/j/89586041575#success) or phone (888-278-0254 access code 843298#).
Join us in speaking up to save the $43+ Million Behavioral Healthcare Infrastructure Grant For Oakley Delta Road Project. We have worked for years together with the California Coalition for Care and dreamed that a project such as this could be built in East County. The East County Project, also known as the Delta Recovery Center, is currently in jeopardy and is located at the edge of Oakley. It was previously awarded $43 million dollars as a launch-ready project as required for submission. We researched extensively in Contra Costa based on years of experience in community planning and recent needs assessments for the specialty behavioral health population. Additionally, we placed a strong emphasis on equity and East County disparities in our planning.
If you have any concerns on July 8th, please do not hesitate to call us at (925) 942-0767. Though the office will be closed during the morning, we will resume operations on July 8th as usual at 12 PM.
The California Coalition for Care includes multiple individual grassroots and formal organizations from across the state. We represent families, peers, providers, and community members who support the reform and transformation of the California Behavioral Health system. Many of us are current or former members of local mental health boards and commissions, and we have had interactions with local, state, and national committees over the past 20 to 25 years.
We work with all layers of local, state, and federal policy makers and stakeholders for the collective vision of home, health, and healing to finally be achieved for all who live heroically with severe mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders. We do not believe that California has achieved its promise to our loved ones, families, and communities, which is why we fully support the current behavioral health reforms of Proposition 1.
We support all efforts to strengthen and expand equity, access, and inclusion for all California residents and communities. Our primary focus is a fully funded continuum of care, encompassing both hospital-based and community-based services. We also support a tiered system of “Housing That Heals” that will provide both recovery and medically necessary treatment and care that will help prevent homelessness, incarceration, unnecessary institutionalization, and suffering.
We are authentic “Partners in Care” who demand the right to treatment before tragedy. We will no longer settle for a system that is designed to fail, jail, treat, and street our friends and loved ones. We support building a compassionate continuum of care for ALL families like ours.
Who are families like ours? We are those whose loved ones have developed no-fault severe brain disorders that can rob their voluntary decision-making capacity to seek safety and care. We are those told we would be lucky to get our adult children into the criminal justice system because those are the beds that never say “no.” We drive across the state to visit our children in locked facilities and state hospitals because there are no alternative options in our communities.
We desperately try to prevent our loved ones from being forced into jail cells, streets, or coffins. We are housing providers, unpaid caregivers, and “curbside caregivers” who search the streets calling out the names of our beloved family members.
We are an action partnership that will work with local, state, and federal officials to educate about the discrimination that is driving despair, disparities, disability, and death of people who live heroically with severe mental illnesses and substance use disorders. We achieve this by mobilizing other organized supporters and the vast majority of Californians who already share our concerns and values.
Below is some of the data that supports the need for Contra Costa to accept every penny of state money, especially in East County:
39% of Medi-Cal beneficiaries live in East County
40% of CCBHS consumers live in East County
One of the primary findings from the community listening sessions we did for the opioid settlement funds was for more services in East County.
We heard stories of people who tried to access detox beds in West County, but by the time they arrived, the beds were no longer available.
The County spends at least $19 million per year on out-of-county placements, with over 200 individuals placed out of county at any given time.
More than half of these individuals are in locked settings from San Diego to Humboldt. (Source: BHCIP Needs Assessment, CARE Court planning data)
There are over 2,500 individuals in the County jail who are referred for detention mental health services annually. Approximately 40 of these clients require services in a locked and/or residential setting each year. (Source: BHCIP Needs Assessment) Due to systemic racial biases, many of these individuals are from BIPOC Communities.
There are approximately 1,600 individuals with serious mental illness (predominantly schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders) who are experiencing crisis, hospitalization, and incarceration, who require intensive specialty mental health services to address their mental health needs (Source: CARE Court planning data)
In honor of BIPOC (Minority) Mental Health, we will share community defined strategies and culturally responsive services we utilize to serve the cultural and ethnic demographics of Contra Costa County. Through our innovations program, we are “Building Mental Health Friendly Communities Together.”
Meeting Information
This meeting was held on July 17th at 7 PM, over Zoom. Video recording will be posted soon.
Agenda
The General Meeting begins at 7 PM, with announcements kicking off the meeting. The presentation begins at 7:15 PM.
Meeting Description
Facilitated by Gigi Crowder Joined by a Diverse Group of NAMI CC Staff Reflecting the Cultural and Ethnic Demographics of this County
This monthly General Meeting Speaker Series presentation is in Honor of Bebe Moore Campbell BIPOC (Minority) Mental Health Awareness Month and will focus on the services we have in place at NAMI CC to serve the cultural and ethnic demographics of Contra Costa County. We will have our ethnic specific teams share the work we do to improve outcomes for BIPOC Community members and hold a Listening Session so we can identify what’s working and what’s not working in each cultural group.
In addition to peer support, outreach, education and advocacy, one such program includes our newest Innovations program, called “Building Mental Health Friendly Communities Together” – Interfaith communities learning strategies of acceptance for those impacted by mental health challenges. Through an innovation Grant from Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Care, our curriculum has expanded to African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, LatinX and LGBTQ+ Interfaith communities. Each ethnic and cultural group will share the details of Mental Health 101 for the interfaith community presentations scheduled now and within the next few months of 2025. In many communities, the stigma around discussions on mental health stems from historical and cultural factors, many of which have led to significant health disparities, due to shame, fear of judgment, and social inequities. Through the power of conversation, NAMI CC is dedicated to eliminating stigma and reshaping mental health by elevating the voices of those in communities that have been historically neglected and marginalized, ensuring they receive the support, understanding, and resources they need to thrive.
In 2008, inspired by Campbell’s charge to end stigma and provide mental health support for BIPOC communities, July was designated as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month by the U.S. House of Representatives. There have been recent attempts to change the month’s name, but at NAMI CC, we continue to recognize the importance of honoring Bebe Moore Campbell’s incredible legacy and groundbreaking work in helping to shift the mental health culture in under served communities.
Questions, Comments, and Closed Captioning
If you have questions or comments for our speakers during the presentation, you may contact Gigi Crowder at gigi@namicontracosta.org.
Closed Caption Translation is available in various languages for any of NAMI CC’s General Meetings on ZOOM. Attendees can select the language of their choosing. RSVP to gigi@namicontracosta.org by July 17, 2025 if you require audio language translation.
Please be advised that the NAMI CC (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Contra Costa) office will be closed at 3 PM on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Friday, July 4, 2025, and Saturday, July 5, 2025, in observance of Independence Day.
As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we also encourage you to take time to focus on your mental wellness. Simple acts of self-care, such as enjoying time outdoors, connecting with loved ones, or reflecting on personal growth, can support your mental health and well-being.
If you have any concerns during our closure, please don’t hesitate to call us at (925) 942-0767. While our office will be closed, we remain available to support you.
We will reopen and resume regular operations on Monday, July 7, 2025.
