Dear NAMI Contra Costa Supporter,
NAMI CC greatly appreciates all the dedicated and committed supporters we’ve had over the last year. We’ve done a great job improving outcomes for older adults. Our Older Adult support group provided many with a space where they could find encouragement, companionship, and a sense of independence. We couldn’t have done it without you!
This year, we have decided to focus our attention on the members of our community who sleep under the stars. You may be aware that each year Contra Costa County does a homelessness count. Sadly, the numbers have increased by 18% this year. We know that many of those individuals are only homeless because they were untreated for their mental health, which often leads to self medication and strained relationships that make it difficult for them to remain in their family home. According to the CASPEH (California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness) report by UCSF, 82% of Californians experiencing homelessness reported having a serious mental health condition, and 1 in 10 Californians meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.
We have been given the opportunity through the city of Concord to lift up our “Leave No One Behind” program, and will be connecting those words to the recent implementation of Care Court. We hope to identify individuals who fit that criteria, and build the type of relationships with them that will allow them to finally get the supportive loving care they desire, and deserve. However, we need you. We’re not okay with having only two branches of our program, one in Concord and one unfunded in Antioch, knowing that unsheltered individuals who live with mental health challenges are across our entire county, desperately needing assistance.
We’d like to hire two homeless outreach coordinators to position themselves to start addressing the needs of individuals across our county, and getting them, when appropriate, connected to Care Court. This is an effort that we do not want to fail at. We want to complement the work Contra Costa County Behavioral Health is doing. We recognize that many of our staff members have been where these individuals are, so we know that we carry the skill set, and more importantly, the empathy and compassion, to make a difference.
We’re asking each of our community members to pitch in and help us with this. No dollar amount is too small; however, our ultimate goal is $100,000. Let’s get there together!
Donations are tax-deductible and will allow NAMI CC to continue its mission:
To provide support, outreach, education and advocacy to individuals living with and families impacted by mental illness.
Sincerely,
Gigi R. Crowder
CEO
La Tanyua Brown-Thompson
President
