#United States #San Mateo #Behavioral Health #Substance Use #Caminar

Caminar's Ambitious Plans for 2024

Caminar, a premier behavioral health care agency operating in the Bay Area, has unveiled significant organizational achievements for the upcoming year, showcasing their commitment to enhancing mental health and substance use treatment services. With ambitious plans to expand services into additional Northern California and Bay Area counties, the agency looks forward to serving a broader population in need of support.

Expanding Services

In a strategic move to better serve its community, Caminar has expanded its operations significantly. Notably, the agency is now offering services in Contra Costa County through initiatives like the Bringing Families Home program, which aims to prevent eviction for families in need. Moreover, the agency has extended its reach into Shasta County, where the Friendship Circle program has recently commenced operations.

Caminar is dedicated to integrating effective treatments within community settings. To this end, they have placed trained outpatient substance use treatment counselors in shelters across seven locations in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. This initiative facilitates access to vital resources for vulnerable populations facing substance use challenges.

Additionally, the organization has rolled out Contingency Management and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services within its Santa Clara substance use treatment offerings. These evidence-based strategies have proven particularly effective in addressing methamphetamine addiction, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive care in outpatient and intensive outpatient programs.

New Locations

A remarkable milestone has been reached with the opening of the Willow Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC) in San Mateo County. This newly established facility, comprising 16 locked beds, is designed to provide high-quality therapeutic and rehabilitation services to clients grappling with severe mental health difficulties. The Willow MHRC is part of a larger Cordilleras Campus initiative that aims to deliver enhanced services to a significant number of people by collaborating with several providers.

In December, the Zanker Road clinic in San Jose began operations, offering Medi-Cal Mental Health and LGBTQ programs, fully renovated to provide trauma-informed care. The clinic houses the LGBTQ Youth Space, dedicated to creating a supportive and confidential environment for young individuals from diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in Santa Clara County.

Recent Grant Funding

Despite the challenging economic climate in California, Caminar has successfully secured numerous grants that will bolster its growth in the upcoming years. These include a Rapid Rehousing grant for Concord set to launch in 2025, a generous $100,000 grant from Wells Fargo aimed at supporting Resource Connect Solano, and a $255,000 grant from the City of Chico, designated for renovations at Avenida Apartments. Additionally, the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation has increased its funding for the School-Based Services FAST program, which underscores the agency’s dedication to maintaining and expanding vital services.

Employee Recognitions and Celebrations

2024 has proven to be a year of recognition and celebration for the Caminar team. Key moments included presentations at California conferences and honors given to individual employees for their exceptional work. Highlights included acknowledging Maritza Henry and Brian Hinojosa for their contributions at the Wellness Together Conference, and celebrating Sayoko Yoshimura and Kendra Ceccato at the San Mateo County Housing Heroes Awards.

Furthermore, the agency commemorated its 60th anniversary by hosting an event with notable guests, including journalist Lisa Ling. This celebration, juxtaposed with the evolution of messaging and branding practices, aims to increase visibility and diversify revenue sources to better serve a growing base.

Mark Cloutier, CEO of Caminar, expressed pride in his team’s efforts, stating, "Despite the challenges this past year, we have continued to prioritize whole-person care for our community.” He emphasized that the consistent dedication of the team has been pivotal in securing successful outcomes for the clients they serve.

As Caminar prepares for an impactful year ahead, the organization is also expanding its medical team with the addition of Dr. Gayani DeSilva and Director of Nursing Jenny Low. The board now includes new members Marie Jackson, Shannon Hernandez, Yan Leykin, and Rafael Dugarte, who will help guide the organization toward future success.

To learn more about Caminar and its comprehensive programs, visit www.caminar.org. The FY23-24 impact report is set to be released later this month, sharing insights into the organization’s achievements and services provided to the community.

About Caminar

Founded in 1964, Caminar is a leading behavioral health organization that reached over 41,000 individuals last year across seven counties in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Committed to building strength and stability, the organization delivers evidence-based and whole-person care to those in need of mental health and substance use treatment, aiming to be a beacon of safety and compassion in the community.