NAMI CC General Meetings
Held every 3rd Thursday of the month from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Free and open to the public.
2024
April 2024 General Meeting
Tune in for our April 2024 General Meeting Mental Health Speaker Series: The Benefits of Companion Pets on Mental Wellness!
March 2024 General Meeting
NAMI CC Presents March 2024 General Meeting: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE; An Introduction to Employment Laws Protecting Individuals with Disabilities and Their Loved Ones. Click Read More for Meeting Information.
February 2024 General Meeting
Video, notes, and slides now available! Treatment Not Tents – How Prop 1 Will Help Our Loved Ones
January 2024 General Meeting
How to Support My Child or Adolescent Living with ADHD Hosted by NAMI Contra Costa on January 18, 2024 Our panel: Summary For our January 2024 General Meeting, we started 2024 with a conversation regarding ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – what is and how is it diagnosed for children and adolescents. We covered the following
2023
December 2023 General Meeting
Summary For our December 2023 General Meeting, we hosted our Virtual Family Holiday Sing-Along party with novice and professional singers. As is our tradition, we gathered our families in front of our computers and had our favorite desserts handy. We encouraged attendees to wear their favorite holiday sweater to celebrate the 2023 holiday season! Gift
November 2023 General Meeting
Speakers Summary Nearly 1 in 4 active duty members showed signs of a mental health condition, according to a 2014 JAMA Psychiatry study. The study found the rate of PTSD to be 15 times higher than civilians and the rate of depression to be five times higher than civilians. For our November monthly General Meeting
October 2023 General Meeting
Speakers Summary Our October 2023 General Meeting was held on October 19, 2023 at 7 pm over Zoom. It featured updates on Innovative Behavioral Health Crisis Response, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Implements Behavioral Health Fire First Program. For our October General Meeting, we received updates on an innovative behavioral health crisis response program.
September 2023 General Meeting
Summary For our September 2023 General Meeting, we invited client and family member perspectives on how the A3 Miles Hall Community Crisis Hub behavioral health crisis response program services were going. We had invited two of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health graduate student research team members – Theo Michaels and Dani MacVicar, in
August 2023 General Meeting
Focusing on Youth Mental Health: How to Best Support Students as they Return Back to School Summary As the new school year approached, NAMI Contra Costa held a community dialogue for our August General Meeting on how best to support students, parents, and caregivers as they returned back to school. We discussed what programs we
July 2023 General Meeting
Valuing Diversity: Developing Cultural Humility in Mental Health Outreach and Engagement In Honor of July as BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month Speaker Gigi R. Crowder, L.E., Executive Director, NAMI Contra Costa Summary For our July 2023 General Meeting, in honor of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI Contra Costa Executive Director Gigi Crowder shared her
June 2023 General Meeting
In Honor of PRIDE Month, Hear from NAMI CC Staff Who Identify as LGBTQI+ Speakers Summary We recognized June as Pride month and heard from NAMI CC peer support specialists who had lived experience with mental illness and also identified as LGBTQI+. We also received our California Non Profit of the Year award from the
May 2023 General Meeting
2023 Change Agent Appreciation Award Nominations for Individuals/Organizations Making an Extraordinary Difference in Improving Mental Health Outcomes Summary In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI CC held its 4th Annual Community Change Agent Appreciation Awards at our General Meeting on May 18, 2023. It was another special event as many NAMI CC community members,
February 2023 General Meeting
Black Minds Matter 2! Sharing Community Defined Strategies and Tools that if Implemented Could, with Funding, Improve Outcomes for African Americans Living with Mental Health Challenges Speaker Summary For our February 2023 General Meeting in recognition of Black History Month, our Executive Director, Gigi Crowder, L.E., shared community-defined strategies and tools that, if implemented with
January 2023 General Meeting
An Interconnected Approach to Nutrition and Mental Health Speaker Kathy Maibaum-Perryman, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) Summary Our January 2023 General Meeting kicked started the new year focused on a common resolution: Nutrition and its connection with mental health. Our very own NAMI Contra Costa family member/volunteer, Kathy Maibaum-Perryman, coached or ‘cheered’ attendees on their
2022
December 2022 General Meeting
The NAMI CC Family Holiday Sing-Along Summary Although NAMI Contra Costa couldn’t be with you physically during the holidays for karaoke and desserts as we were honoring COVID protocol, we were there virtually this year. For our December General Meeting, we hosted a Virtual Family Holiday Sing-Along party with novice and professional singers. As was
November 2022 General Meeting
No One Cares About Crazy People Speaker Gail Freedman Summary Several community members joined NAMI Contra Costa on November 17, 2022 in supportive efforts to continue the work of completing this important project: “No One Cares About Crazy People.” We hosted a fundraising event for the film-in-progress, a feature independent documentary from the book by
October 2022 General Meeting
Speaker Vaibhav Diwadkar, Ph.D Summary Schizophrenia is the most challenging of behavioral health conditions. Treatment and management of symptoms place extraordinary psychological, physical and financial burdens on patients and their families. One reason why schizophrenia remains a challenge is that the illness’ bases in brain function are poorly understood. A lack of access to data
September 2022 General Meeting
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month NAMI Contra Costa’s Effort to Take Action with Suicide Awareness and Preventative Approaches Speakers Summary September was Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. NAMI Contra Costa focused on suicide prevention in all programs and for all age groups. For our September General Meeting, we focused on the strategic approaches NAMI Contra Costa used
August 2022 General Meeting
The Truth about 988 and How to Get Support for Your Loved One in Crisis Speakers Summary For our August General Meeting, NAMI Contra Costa enlightened attendees on how to get support for their loved ones in crisis utilizing the new 988 number, which should not be confused with the local efforts in California that
July 2022 General Meeting
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Promoting Healing Through Creativity Speakers Talented Artist, Yanory NorwoodTari and Sage Loring, Local Edition Creative Summary NAMI Contra Costa was excited to announce its July General Meeting with a focus on Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Local Edition Creative founders Tari and Sage Loring discussed their recent collaboration with their
June 2022 General Meeting
Recognizing PRIDE Month, Honoring the LGBTQI+ Community Speaker Summary For our special June monthly General Meeting recognizing PRIDE Month, Leslie Ewing shared the history of the LGBTQI+ movement in the Bay Area. Leslie shared her LGBTQI+ and AIDS activism career with us. She currently serves on the board of the National AIDS Memorial. Leslie’s LGBTQI+
May 2022 General Meeting
3rd Annual Mental Health Awareness Annual Awards and Recognition Over the last two months, NAMI CC asked members to submit their nominees for Community Change Agent Awards, with the intent to recognize sixteen (16) community members/organizations who made an extraordinary difference and improved the quality of lives by supporting people and/or their families with mental
April 2022 General Meeting
Updates on SB 803 and Other Current Mental Health Legislation Speaker Roberto Roman, Contra Costa Health Services, Office for Consumer Empowerment Summary For our April monthly General Meeting, Roberto Roman, from Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services, Office for Consumer Empowerment, presented on the ongoing implementation of the SB 803 legislation and how it supported Contra
February 2022 General Meeting
Building Mental Health Friendly Communities for African Americans Using a Faith-Based Strategy In Recognition of African American Heritage Month Speakers Founders of Mental Health Friendly Communities: Summary For our February 2022 General Meeting, NAMI Contra Costa had Mental Health Friendly Communities Founders, Pastor Horacio Jones and our Executive Director, Gigi Crowder, share a community-defined, culturally
2021
December 2021 General Meeting
NAMI CC Family Holiday Sing-A-Long Summary Although NAMI Contra Costa couldn’t be with you physically during the holidays for karaoke and desserts as we were honoring COVID-19 protocol, we were there virtually. For our December 2021 General Meeting, we hosted a Virtual Family Holiday Sing-A-Long party with novice and professional singers. As was our tradition,
November 2021 General Meeting
Housing that Heals Quality, Affordable Housing Solutions for People with Serious Mental Illnesses Speakers Summary We came together for our November General Meeting, featuring Speakers Lauren Rettagliata and Teresa Pasquini on their advocacy journey as partners on the “Housing That Heals” project in search of quality, affordable housing solutions for people who live with serious
July 2021 General Meeting
Addressing Disparities in Our Criminal Justice System Speaker Summary July was Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. For our General Meeting, our focus was on addressing disparities in the criminal justice system. Our Speaker was Stephanie Regular from the Contra Costa County Public Defender Office, joined by NAMI CC West County Coordinator Eddie Morris and Executive
June 2021 General Meeting
Kiku Johnson Speaks Speaker Summary Join us for a special PRIDE month June NAMI CC virtual General Meeting as we featured Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County Executive Director, Kiku Johnson, who discussed topics such as the history of PRIDE month, his background, and his work to advance efforts surrounding mental health in the
May 2021 General Meeting
2nd Annual Community Change Agent Awards and Appreciation Event Mental Health Awareness Annual Awards and Recognition Nomination Dinner Summary NAMI CC held a Virtual Nominations Awards Dinner for our monthly General Meeting on May 20, 2021 from 7:00 p.m.– 8:30 p.m. Over the last two months, NAMI CC asked members to submit their nominees for
April 2021 General Meeting
Topics Summary In an effort to better respond to crises and avoid tragedies involving law enforcement, Contra Costa Health Services was involved in a robust stakeholder process, which included selected community advocates, County Behavioral Health, law enforcement personnel, and individuals with lived mental health experience. This “Rapid Improvement Event” series focused on the need for
March 2021 General Meeting
Women’s History Month Special Speakers About the Speakers Milly Alvarez Milly Alvarez, LCSW, was the Program Director of Towne House Creative Living Center in Oakland under Cecile Weaver and then became Director in 1987 until she retired in 2010. Towne House Creative Living Center, which is now called Towne House Wellness Center, was a program
February 2021 General Meeting
Black History Month Special Speaker Summary Wandah discussed the challenges of raising two African American sons who lived with mental illness. She shared the impact it had on African American families and highlighted some of the disparities she experienced from being in this population. She discussed the importance of having conversations about and heightening awareness
January 2021 General Meeting
BART Changes BART Set to Hire Civilian Social Workers Instead of Filling Police Officer Positions to Deal with Social Problems Speaker Summary Armando Sandoval has over 30 years of experience working with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and the mental health field and community. Over 15 years of those years include experience as a
2020
December 2020 General Meeting
NAMI CC Family Holiday Sing-A-Long Summary Although NAMI Contra Costa wasn’t with you physically during the holidays as we honored COVID-19 protocol, we were there virtually. For our December General Meeting, we hosted a Virtual Family Holiday Sing-A-Long party with novice and professional singers. As was our tradition, we gathered our families in front of
November 2020 General Meeting
Summary No Summary was documented for this general meeting.
September 2020 General Meeting
Ask the Experts Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention Strategies Speakers Summary The month of September is National Suicide Awareness Month. Therefore, the topic for NAMI Contra Costa’s General Meeting in September focused on suicide prevention. The Contra Costa Crisis Center was well-aware that COVID-19 and the continuing social distancing protocols were creating sustained stress in
August 2020 General Meeting
Ask the Expert Coping with COVID-19 Speaker Allyson Mayo, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Children Summary Allyson Mayo of Behavioral Fitness, LLC, discussed the role of behavioral health workforce development leading healthcare and caretakers during the pandemic as well as trans-generational stress and eco-anxiety. She provided resources in her discussion. NAMI CC Executive Director