Saturday, February 20, 2021
11:00am – 12:30pm
Entertainment, Spoken Word, Historical Presentation and Black Health Matters – COVID19 information
Zoom Info: 82710879455
Passcode: 109274
Do you want to know more about how you can volunteer? Has a friend or family member said they are looking for a way to help the community during the pandemic?
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer on our crisis and 211 lines, please sign up for our next orientation. Training covers everything you need to know to be an effective call specialist.
We have TWO January orientation sessions AND a panel discussion for potential volunteers to find out more.
We will hold Volunteer Orientation Meetings on Thurs, January 7, 2021, 7pm-8pm, and repeated on Thurs, January 14, 2021, 7pm-8pm.
To register to attend one of these online orientation meetings, sign up here – www.crisis-center.org/volunteer/
Find out more – hear from Crisis & Suicide Line volunteers about what it’s like to answer crisis calls: Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 7pm-8pm.
To register to attend this online Crisis Line Volunteer Panel presentation, use this link: www.crisis-center.org/CrisisLinePanel/
More info here or send email to Scott Chavez, our Outreach and Training Coordinator.
The Contra Costa Crisis Center invites you to learn about the various ways to volunteer with us, including helping us on our Crisis & Suicide Hotlines. We will hold Volunteer Orientation Meetings on Thurs, January 7, 2021, 7pm-8pm, and repeated on Thurs, January 14, 2021, 7pm-8pm.
To register to attend one of these online orientation meetings, use this link: www.crisis-center.org/volunteer/
Hear from Crisis & Suicide Line volunteers about what it’s like to answer crisis calls in another online meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 7pm-8pm.
To register to attend this online Crisis Line Volunteer Panel presentation, use this link: www.crisis-center.org/CrisisLinePanel/
2020 has been a year full of struggles so we are giving back to our community. Over the next few weeks, we will be hosting 12 donation-based outdoor classes plus for every membership or class pack purchase made in the month of December, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to the Contra Costa Crisis Center. Invite your friends and loved ones to class to share in the giving.
Donation Based Outdoor Classes
Fire HIIT at 9:00am
Saturdays, December 12, 19, & 26
Forge Circuit at 9:00am
Sundays, December 13, 20, & 27
Minimum donation: $1
Mental Health Speaker Series, Free and Open to the Public – Ask the Experts: Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention Strategies
Via Zoom – To Join Zoom Meeting: Click the link – https://zoom.us/j/98328917770
Scott Chavez, CC Crisis Center Training Lead & Stephanie Lewis, LMFT, Division Director of Crisis Services, AC Behavioral Health Scott Chavez is the Outreach and Training Lead at the Contra Costa Crisis Center, founded in 1963, where each day, volunteers and staff provide support, counseling and resource information – helping people in emotional or psychological distress. The month of September is National Suicide Awareness Month. Therefore, the topic for NAMI Contra Costa’s General Meeting in September focuses on suicide prevention. The Contra Costa Crisis Center is well-aware that COVID-19 and the continuing social distancing protocols are creating sustained stress in many people’s lives. Scott will discuss the Contra Costa Crisis Center’s recommendations related to COVID-19 stress, self-care, and safety planning for anyone at any level of risk for suicidal behavior. In addition, Scott will share the effects of COVID-19 on the calls, caller and the team of staff and volunteers who answer the crisis calls. Stephanie Lewis, LMFT is currently the Division Director, Crisis Services, Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH), providing oversight, direction, planning, and development of the full spectrum of crisis services and multidisciplinary teams within the ACBH Crisis Division. Over 21 years of experience working in collaboration with law enforcement and emergency medical services providing crisis mental health services to individuals throughout Alameda County. More than 16 years of expert experience providing various trainings to consumers, clinicians, community providers, and law enforcement on topics related to mental health crisis assessment, intervention, and de-escalation.
THURSDAY, September 17 2020 7:00 – 8:30 PM VIA ZOOM 7:00pm NAMI Announcements – 7:15pm Presentation Begins
Time will be allowed for individuals to ask questions. Submit questions by September 16 to ashley@namicontracosta.org.
NAMI Contra Costa is a Non Profit Organization located at 2151 Salvio Suite V Concord CA Office, www.namicontracosta.org.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and National Suicide Prevention Week is September 6 – 12, 2020.
While we need to focus on suicide prevention every day of every year, this month can help bring attention to the efforts. And we can do this by continuously spreading awareness, advocating for research funding, developing innovative and effective treatment tools, being kind, and helping to educate others on things like resources and warning signs. It’s time to get involved. Please join our events and help share messages of help and hope in the community.
If you or anyone you know are having thoughts of suicide or need to speak with someone ready to listen, please call 211 or 800.833.2900, or text HOPE to 20121.
Suicide Prevention Month Events
JOIN US FOR ONE OR BOTH OF THESE EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER:
Sign up for: Suicide Prevention
Tuesday, 09/08/20. 7pm-8pm
With: Scott Chavez, Outreach & Training Lead
· Learn about the language of suicide awareness, current suicide statistics, risk factors and how to help.
Sign up for: What’s it like to be a Crisis Line Volunteer?
Tuesday, 09/15/20 7pm-8pm
With: Contra Costa Crisis Center Volunteer Panel
· Hear from a panel of volunteers what it’s like to be a Crisis Counselor on our 24-hour crisis hotlines.
Click on the session title to register. Sessions will take place via Zoom and session info will be sent via email upon registration.
Wendy Diaz is our Help Me Grow Care Coordinator.
Wendy previously worked with Aspiranet in Antioch where she served as a Therapeutic Behavioral Support Counselor for the last five years for children under the age of 18 needing mental health support.
She was also there as an Intervention Specialist for children who were special needs and on the Autism Spectrum, and she also did some work as an administrative assistant at the same time.
Her favorite thing about the Crisis Center so far? “I really like how friendly and welcoming everyone is. I know that if I have a question, I can find someone to help me.”
Wendy is an alumni of Liberty High School in Brentwood, is bilingual (English and Spanish) with a Masters in Human Services, a Bachelors and Associates in Psychology, and currently lives in Brentwood. She enjoys baking, reviewing food places, traveling, and watching anime when she has some spare time.
Welcome, Wendy!
MORE CALLER STORIES from people we are helping each day:
- A caller from Pinole was exposed to a family member with coronavirus and quarantined, along with other family members exposed. With two children at home, and no grocery delivery options for EBT, she called 211 for help. We connected her to emergency food delivery, and it “restored (her) faith in community.”
- Our follow up system helped a suicidal homeless caller stay connected. When she first called, she was in great distress and at high risk for ending her life. We advocated for her with local shelter provider, helped her become calmer, and connected her to services. Through a series of calls to check back with her and connection to the right help, she reclaimed a more hopeful outlook.
To help during these challenging times, we presented as part of this webinar on teen stress. The webinar replay for “Defusing Teen Stress: Navigating Tough Times and Finding Healing“ is now available to watch.
If needed, here are the resources mentioned in the talk. Please keep, or pass along to a friend or family member who could use the information.
Crisis and Suicide Hotlines:
-
- In Contra Costa County:
- Call 211
- Or 1-800-833-2900
- Text HOPE to 20121
- In Contra Costa County:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- National Crisis Text Line: send text to 741741
- Get in touch with our panelists:
- Graham Wiseman (925) 209-6685 – graham@beingwellca.org
- Scott Chavez ScottC@crisis-center.org
- Melanie Wahlberg, CS (818) 300-1793 – melaniewahlbergcs@gmail.com
This event was sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Pleasant Hill, CA, and First Church of Christ, Scientist, Orinda, CA
