Community Advocacy

Cal Voices

Cal Voices is dedicated to improving the lives of residents in the diverse communities of California. Using community-serving programs, Cal Voices works with clients and consumers of behavioral health services to promote wellness and recovery, prevention, and improved access to culturally relevant services. Cal Voices staff provide peer services that foster recovery, reduce stigma, and lessen discrimination.

The advocacy work for this population is administered through community connection, training and education, and outreach events held statewide to spread awareness and reduce stigma associated with behavioral health services.

California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN)

CPEHN’s mission is to advance health equity by advocating for public policies and sufficient resources to address the behavioral health needs of communities of color. Operating on a statewide platform, CPEHN strives to gather and amplify opportunities for local, established, community-based organizations who can provide their expertise in developing policies that close disparities.

The advocacy work for this program focuses on meeting the community where they are at, identifying the needs of the population, creating safe spaces to meet with policy makers, and connecting with resources to improve behavioral health.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness California (NAMI CA)

NAMI California is dedicated to strengthening grassroots organizations by providing information and support to 56 local affiliates across the State. Representing nearly 20,000 people to the California Legislature and Governor, NAMI California advocates for solutions. By educating families, professionals, and the public, NAMI California works to eliminate stigma and provide a behavioral health system which offers a continuum of care for the long-term needs of people living with mental illness.

The focus of this advocacy program is to strengthen and support the families of people with behavioral health issues, providing connection, education, training, and outreach and creating a sense of community through resource connection to support services and resources.

Mental Health America of California (MHAC)

MHAC is a statewide, peer-run organization, advocating and assisting communities, families, and individuals in experiencing hope, wellness, and recovery from behavioral health challenges. MHAC brings behavioral health resources to the LGBTQIA+ community in ways that are accessible to the population. MHAC envisions a time when the behavioral health system is a “help first” system that seeks to prevent disability and empower people to achieve fulfilling lives.

The advocacy work in this program focuses on providing safe spaces and community connection through events that are defined by the community, coupled with specific resource connections such as Drag Queen Story Hour, Vogue Balls, and HIV/AIDS awareness and testing.

United Parents

United Parents is a grassroots nonprofit agency founded on the principle of “parents helping parents.” United Parents helps families identify and bridge gaps in traditional services by integrating local resources, in turn enhancing long-term outcomes for children, families, and their communities.

The focus of this contract is to increase capacity-building of parents at the local level, and with policymakers at the state level through education, a training academy, skill-building, and respite.

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN)

CAYEN develops, educates, and strengthens the voices of Transition Age Youth (TAY) to shape local and statewide public policy. CAYEN engages youth and young adults ages 16–25 with lived experience in the behavioral health, juvenile justice, and foster care systems. CAYEN provides support and training to help TAY develop leadership and advocacy for the local and state level. CAYEN is the TAY-led program of Mental Health America of California (MHAC.)

The focus of the advocacy program is to increase skill-building of the TAY population to give credibility to their community voice and connect them with policy makers.

California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA)

CAVSA is a consortium of six non-profit veteran service providers working in partnership. CAVSA’s geographic diversity facilitates the delivery of direct services in both urban and rural regions from Eureka to San Diego. CAVSA works to improve services for California’s veterans and educate our communities about the unique needs of military veterans and their families.

The focus of this advocacy program is to reduce stigma and lift the voice of Veterans. The program strives to ensure inclusion in statewide programs and policies through events that empower Veterans to share their stories and directly connect with policy makers.

Jakara Movement

Based in Fresno but with affiliates statewide, Jakara Movement was founded with a mission to empower, educate, and organize marginalized communities to advance their health, education, and other disparities. Recognized as a leader in youth empowerment, Jakara Movement holds a special focus on youth development. Using training that increases skills and responsibilities over time, Jakara Movement aims to provide leadership opportunities for youth with support from mentors and other leaders.

The focus of this advocacy program is four youth-led conferences across the state in marginalized and vulnerable communities.  The conferences aim to reduce stigma by reaching kids through mental health workshops, hip-hop performances, and connections to professional athletes. To date, conferences have been held in Yuba City, Riverside, and Fresno, with over 700 attendees.

Youth Leadership Institute

Established in 1991, Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) operates over 60 youth leadership and development programs across the state. YLI’s mission is to build communities where young people and their adult allies come together to create positive social change. Each program follows a local issue trajectory that: 1) builds the confidence and skills of youth leaders, 2) conducts youth-led research, 3) amplifies youth stories, and 4) crafts policy campaigns that improve the wellbeing of youth and their communities.

The focus of this advocacy program is to create and guide eight (8) Youth Leadership Boards in different geographical regions of the state, The boards meet regularly to share knowledge, build advocacy skills, and receive leadership training.

The Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy offers both a statewide and local approach with two separate programs.

Statewide

California Pan Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN)

CPEHN operates within a statewide network of partners to gather information on the needs of the Immigrant and Refugee community. The statewide contract focuses on unification of the Immigrant and Refugee voice to raise issues to high-level decision makers to improve the behavioral health of the entire population.

Local Programs

The Local Programs support specific populations within the Immigrant and Refugee community with an approach tailored to that population’s identified need. They lift community voices to local decision makers and work with the statewide contractor to inform statewide needs for the population.

Bay Area

Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Inc. (AACI)

AACI serves individuals and families with cultural humility, sensitivity, and respect, advocating for and serving marginalized and ethnic communities in Santa Clara County. AACI was founded in 1973 to advocate for and serve Southeast Asian refugees and has continued to serve refugees and survivors of torture and genocide from all over the world for 50 years. With a staff that has grown to 260+ members, AACI provides a medical home for the community it serves, which is largely low-income, immigrant, and limited English-speaking individuals and families.

Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI)

Located in Alameda County, CERI was founded by a group of bilingual/bicultural mental health professionals in 2006. The non-profit is dedicated to the healing, advocacy, and empowerment of refugee and immigrant communities affected by war, torture, genocide, and other life-altering traumas. CERI uses a holistic model of community mental health care, weaving together intergenerational resilience with mental health and social services.

Central

Health Education Council

The Health Education Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with over 34 years of experience in improving health outcomes among diverse, historically underserved communities in northern California. Since inception, the Health Education Council has worked in Sacramento and Yolo counties, starting with farm workers in rural communities, underserved Latino residents, and Asian immigrant/refugee communities. The Health Education Council’s mission is to improve health outcomes in underserved neighborhoods by empowering the people to create the solutions they need most.

Refugees Enrichment & Development Association Inc. (REDA)

Founded as a non-profit in 2017, REDA opened a service center to create a bridge for refugees to existing resources in the community. REDA works closely with Sacramento’s mental health providers, social service agencies, and local government to improve access to mental health resources for immigrant and refugee communities. REDA operates programs covering multiple areas such as mental health wellness, youth development, ESL teaching, school tutoring, community education, recreation, emergency financial support, and child development.

Southern/Los Angeles

BPSOS Center for Community Advancement, Inc.

Founded in 1980, BPSOS is the largest Vietnamese American community-based organization with 501(c)3 status in the United States. In 2000, the BPSOS-Center for Community Advancement was established in Orange County, a local branch to serve Vietnamese residents in California. The BPSOS mission is to “empower, equip, and organize Vietnamese refugees and immigrants toward self-sufficiency for a life in liberty and dignity.”

El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center

El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center has been a community-based organization since 1991. El Sol serves more than 80,000 people annually through a range of culturally responsive programs in the Inland Empire, California. With over 30 years of experience, El Sol provides direct outreach, education, and engagement for immigrant and refugee populations in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles Counties, and surrounding counties.

International Rescue Committee, Inc. (IRC)

The IRC offices in San Diego and Los Angeles were founded in 1975 to support the Southeast Asian refugees after the Vietnam War. Since then, the San Diego office has expanded its services to support immigrants and refugees from many diverse backgrounds, while the Los Angeles office has resettled more than 38,500 refugees from 25 plus countries. IRC provides workforce development, job placement, citizenship education, naturalization services, ESL courses, and financial literacy counseling. Clients include trafficking victims, and undocumented minors across eight counties.