State Assemblyman Juan Alanis said that he is proud of the way that organizations, community groups, government agencies and legislators come together in Stanislaus and Merced counties to get things done to help those in their communities. On Thursday, he was specifically referencing the launch of La Familia Central Valley’s Mobile Mental Health program.
“I like to make sure that we always have hope and continue to have hope, hope that someone will listen, hope that the healing is possible, hope that help is no longer out of reach, but that it is here,” said Alanis.
The Mobile Mental Health Access Point for Rural Californians Project is a pilot mobile van health program serving the rural and often overlooked areas of Stanislaus and Merced counties, expanding behavioral healthcare access to at least 250 unique individuals. The program will serve all residents, but be especially geared toward Latinos, isolated women, and seniors. Both Stanislaus and Merced are HRSA-designated Health Professional Shortage Areas for mental healthcare, and have per capita rates of mental health providers ranging from 50-80% below California’s average.
Alanis and Senator Alex Padilla were each able to secure over $350,000 in state and federal funding to get the project up and running.
The mobile mental health van will travel to rural areas of Stanislaus and Merced counties and provide the following services: screenings and treatment on anxiety, depression and substance abuse; case management services to help residents understand the social services available to them; develop partnerships with cities, churches, migrant farmworker camps, and other community organizations to build trust within rural communities; and launch a public health marketing campaign.
The expansion of mental health services first began when Legacy Health Endowment funded the opening of the First Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center, which merged with La Familia Central Valley.
“We went from myself and two clinicians to a few months later to a clinical supervisor, and now we have over 35 employees here in Turlock,” said Manuel Jimenez, Regional Director of La Familia. “And I think that’s really a blessing for the community, because in that true fashion, from the very beginning, a lot of our services are free.”
Aaron Ortiz, CEO of La Familia, said that with the launch of the mobile services, they will be “bringing lifesaving mental health services directly to those who aren’t the most in need.”
Amparo Murillo, a clinician with La Familia, said that that the community, especially in the rural areas, lack transportation, or there’s sometimes other barriers that prevent them from accessing mental health or social services.
“So us bringing the services to them helps us assess what they need and point them in the direction that they need to go to get the help. Sometimes they just don’t have the access in those rural areas. Us being there and going to them and providing that to them is something that eliminates that barrier,” said Murillo.
There is a monthly calendar of where the mobile mental health van will be.
The first 10 days schedule is:
• May 1, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Los Banos Veterans Hall
• May 2, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Dia del Nino celebration at the Grayson Community Center
• May 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Santa Nella Food Center
• May 6, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Grayson Community Center and 1 p.m. to 3 pm. at the Gustine Public Library
• May 7, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Los Banos Encampment
• May 8, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Newman Adult Education Center
• May 9, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Patterson Host House
• May 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Santa Nella Food Center
• May 13, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Grayson Community Center and 1 p.m. to 3 pm. at the Gustine Public Library
• May 14, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Newman Public Library
For more information on where the van will be, visit: lafamiliacentralvalley.org
