YAIL REFLECTIONS When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. - Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
All about Love give, share and receive By Ajen Busher
In this issue we, the YAIL team, call you to reflect on love. Love is an emotion experienced almost every day in our lives in some way or form. However, love is often only celebrated on a few special days of the year. Why? On the following pages we are calling you to reflect on how love of self, others, and the community can bring healing, joy, and opportunities.
has most inspired her while working for Caminar. The National Institutes of Health provides information to help you discover ways to find more positivity in your life. There are also resources for you to review with a friend, a family member or a collaborator in your life’s journey.
Over the next three months, we are calling on you to see how love is expressed in your daily life. Do you treat yourself to an activity, an exotic meal, set boundaries or a Nadine Goyhenetche, a counselor at read good book? Do you call a Eucalyptus House writes about what friend, hug a family member, give
constructive feedback, or send a letter of appreciate to your collaborator? Do you give back to your community by picking up trash, sing in the park, present your concerns at a town hall meeting, or help a plant tree? Tell us! Tell a friend! The more you share, the more you inspire others to give and share; and the more you inspire others to give and share, love is expressed in your day in unique ways.
For the Love of It
to be proactive, I immediately said I'd walk with her. With Naomi's lead I volunteered as a NAMI walk Captain, sent working together for weekly e-mails to all Caminar San Mateo mental health programs, made signs because I wanted By: Nadine Goyhenetche, CPRP everyone to know Caminar was supporting NAMI, and prepared lunch and I refer to my children's preschool snacks for all the 40 or so participants. teacher as a mentor in my life. Looking Naomi DID complete and entire walk and back I realize with all of her degrees and felt so proud - along with peers and staff knowledge she could have told us exactly walking with her. Every year since 2006 how to be the best mothers to our young Caminar has participated in the NAMI children. Instead she listened to our Walk in Golden Gate Park. Did you know toddler frustrations and developed Caminar’s participation in the annual relationship with all of us so that we are NAMI Walk was initiated by a Caminar We all have a strong natugathering for reunions with her into our Resident? grandmother years. We loved Jeanie! In 2008 a Caminar goal was to build ral inclination to fix things I have worked at Eucalyptus House the program as a Harm Reduction model. since 1997. The primary reason I've We all attended trainings taught by Patt - to give our best advice. I remained passionate about being a Denning, PHD, of the Harm Reduction Caminar mental health professional is the love Motivational InterTherapy Center. The program became ongoing evolvement to offer the best immersed in a relationship paradigm viewing for guiding me to psych rehab services from our taking the where the residents began taking lead to letting our clients take the lead in step back and getting to responsibility for their actions rather than managing their lives! staff saying "I know what's better for know the residents. In 2000 Dr. Dan Fisher's PACE you!". With substance use management Empowerment Model of Recovery we work together - client and staff - to demonstrated how we ALL fit into the reduce the harms associated with alcohol mental health paradigm. Without people telling ME what to do; I'll do what I and drug use. Staff continues to drop sufficient supports, resources and skills, want when I'm ready. MI forms a good their agenda to listen to the residents, we would all lose our mental stability. working relationship by letting each Harm Reduction at its best. My attitude shifted from 'me and you' to resident be the author of their own life. I just read an article about Harvard 'we' needing mental health care! In 2006 a Eucalyptus House resident social psychologist Amy Cuddy who has Staff training needs are constantly asked if I'd do the NAMI walk with her. spent 15 years discovering what addressed to improve our knowledge and She wanted to walk for mental health Caminarians might already know. She sensitivity to the people we work with. I awareness, but didn't know if she could says people quickly answer two questions was able to apply for the CPRP do it. I was so excited a resident wanted when they first meet you: Can I trust this
Quote “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” Mahatma Gandhi
certification when it was offered in 2004. Thanks to Caminar's training requirement I already had completed the 60 required hours to take the test. I'm proud to be a psychiatric rehab practitioner, but even prouder of how the trainings have formed me from what I want for those seeking services to what they want and need. In that journey we learn from one another. We all have a strong natural inclination to fix things - to give our best advice. I love Motivational Interviewing for guiding me to step back and getting to know the residents. I certainly don't like
For the Love of the Sunny Side positive emotions and your health From NIH News in Health, August 2015
Do you tend to look on the sunny side, or do you see a future filled with dark, stormy skies? A growing body of research suggests that having a positive outlook can benefit your physical health. NIH-funded scientists are working to better understand the links between your attitude and your body. They’re finding some evidence that emotional wellness can be improved by developing certain skills. Having a positive outlook doesn’t mean you never feel negative emotions,
such as sadness or anger, says Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson, a psychologist and expert on emotional wellness at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “All emotions—whether positive or negative—are adaptive in the right circumstances. The key seems to be finding a balance between the two,” she says. “Positive emotions expand our awareness and open us up to new ideas, so we can grow and add to our toolkit for survival,” Fredrickson explains. “But
person? and Can I respect this person? "Psychologists refer to these dimensions as warmth and competence respectively, and ideally you want to be perceived as having both....Most people, especially in a professional context, believe that competence is the more important factor. After all, they want to prove that they are smart and talented enough to handle your business....But in fact warmth, or trustworthiness, is the most important factor in how people evaluate you." That's exactly what I learned from Jeanie - she could have spouted her toddler competence but got our lifelong trust by developing warm relationships! That's exactly what I learned from a Eucalyptus House resident in my early years when he pounded the table with his fist and said with each pound, "You are only trying to do your paper work! You are not trying to get to know me!" I felt embarrassed. He was right!
It doesn't matter how long we may have been stuck in a sense of our limitations. If we go into a darkened room and turn on the light, it doesn't matter if the room has been dark for a day, a week, or ten thousand years -- we turn on the light and it is illuminated. Once we control our capacity for love and happiness, the light has been turned on. - Sharon Salzberg
Caminar San Mateo Supportive Communities REDWOOD HOUSE
YAIL YAIL (Young Adult Independent Living) provides an array of specialized Redwood House in Redwood City, CA is a crisis residential program that services to transition-age youth offers an alternative to hospitalization (TAY, or 18-25 year olds) who need support while they develop and for individuals in the recovery prowork towards living more indecess. Residents at the Redwood House participate in a healing com- pendently and accomplishing their life goals. YAIL meets program parmunity environment that benefits ticipants where they're at, bases its from a wide selection of recoveryoriented groups, supportive and well work on each participant's individualized, strengths-based treatment -trained staff, excellent food, and plenty of opportunity for active en- plan, and ultimately helps each participant achieve the goals of greatest gagement with the program. The importance to them (e.g., how to focus is on encouraging a return to keep an apartment, make/maintain the community, with an increased friends, and manage mental health sense of support, hope, and deterissues so it doesn't interfere with mination. dreams and goals). Based in Redwood City, CA, YAIL offers services seven days per week to approximately 20 participants at any given time: a maximum of 6 parHAWTHORNE HOUSE ticipants who live on-site and the EUCALYPTUS HOUSE maximum of 14 participants who live Hawthorne House (also in Redwood elsewhere in San Mateo County. The YAIL campus has one Community City, CA) and Eucalyptus House (located in Daly City, CA) are 12-bed Room, one Recreational Room and four two-bedroom apartments — transitional residential programs three for client rentals and one for that help people prepare for indestaff office/participant drop-in use — pendent living. Residents and staff and serves as the hub for social co-create a caring community that fosters empowerment, peer support, events and community meetings that help develop a safe, healthy and the achievement of life goals. Once again, the staff’s belief community of peer support that reinforces the message of recovery. in each person’s abilities and strengths creates a dynamic community where residents are focused on building successful and meaningful lives. Staff is available for coaching, support, and skill building to enhance each person’s self-esteem and For more information visit: confidence in recovery. www.caminar.org
SUPPORTED RESOURCES EDUCATION Supported Education Caminar Supported Education Program provides a full array state-of-the-art support services to students with disabilities including peer support, specialized classes, educational accommodations and on-campus counseling and support. Phone: (650) 574-6634 San Mateo County Office of Education Regional Occupational Program Vocational training for adults & high school youth. Website: https://cte-smcoe-cteca.schoolloop.com/ Phone: (650) 598-2000
EMPLOYMENT Jobs Plus Caminar Jobs Plus offers job assessment, vocational training, skill development, support on resume writing, job application and interviewing skills. Phone: (650) 578-8691 California Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, training, & placement for persons who have disabilities. Website: http://www.rehab.ca.gov/ Phone: (650) 358-4180 Peninsula Works Offers a range of services to job seekers of all skill levels. Services are provided in Daly City and Menlo Park. Website: http://www.peninsulaworks.org/ JobSeekers/index.html Phone: (650) 581-0071 (Daly City) Phone: (650) 581-0058 (San Mateo) JobTrain Job training for economically disadvantaged, unemployed, or underemployed adults & independent youth. Website: http://www.jobtrainworks.org/ Phone: (650) 330-6429
people need negative emotions to move through difficult situations and respond to them appropriately in the short term. Negative emotions can get us into trouble, though, if they’re based on too much rumination about the past or excessive worry about the future, and they’re not really related to what’s happening in the here and now.” People who are emotionally well, experts say, have fewer negative emotions and are able to bounce back from difficulties faster. This quality is called resilience. Another sign of emotional wellness is being able to hold onto positive emotions longer and appreciate the good times. Developing a sense of meaning and purpose in life—and focusing on what’s important to you—also contributes to emotional wellness. Research has found a link between an upbeat mental state and improved health, including lower blood pressure, reduced risk for heart disease, healthier weight, better blood sugar levels, and longer life. But many studies can’t determine whether positive emotions lead to better health, if being healthy causes positive emotions, or if other factors are involved. “While earlier research suggests an association between positive emotions and health, it doesn’t reveal the underlying mechanisms,” says Dr. Richard J. Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “To understand the mechanisms, I think it will be crucial to understand the underlying brain circuits.” By using brain imaging, Davidson and others have found that positive emotions can trigger “reward” pathways located deep within the brain, including in an area known as the ventral striatum. “Individuals who are able to savor positive emotions have lasting activation in the ventral striatum,” Davidson says. “The longer the activation lasts, the greater his or her feelings of well-being.” Continued activation of this part of the brain has been linked to healthful changes in the body, including lower levels of a stress hormone. Negative emotions, in contrast, can activate a brain region known as the amygdala, which plays a role in fear and anxiety. “We’ve shown that there are big differences among people in how rapidly or slowly the amygdala recovers following
a threat,” Davidson says. “Those who recover more slowly may be more at risk for a variety of health conditions compared to those who recover more quickly.” Among those who appear more resilient and better able to hold on to positive emotions are people who’ve practiced various forms of meditation. In fact, growing evidence suggests that several techniques—including meditation, cognitive therapy (a type of psychotherapy), and self-reflection (thinking about the things you find important)—can help people develop the skills needed to make positive, healthful changes. “Research points to the importance of certain kinds of training that can alter brain circuits in a way that will promote positive responses,” Davidson says. “It’s led us to conclude that well-being can be considered as a life skill. If you practice, you can actually get better at it.” In one study, Davidson and his colleagues found changes in rewardrelated brain circuits after people had 2 weeks of training in a simple form of meditation that focuses on compassion and kindness. These changes, in turn, were linked to an increase in positive social behaviors, such as increased generosity. Fredrickson and her colleagues are also studying meditation. They found that after 6 weeks of training in compassion and kindness meditation, people reported increased positive emotions and social connectedness compared to an untrained group. The meditation group also had improved functioning in a nerve that helps to control heart rate. “The results suggest that taking time to learn the skills to selfgenerate positive emotions can help us become healthier, more social, more resilient versions of ourselves,” Fredrickson says. Dr. Emily Falk, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania, is taking a different approach. Falk is exploring how self-affirmation—that is, thinking about what’s most important to you—can affect your brain and lead to positive, healthful behaviors. Her team found that when people are asked to think about things that they find meaningful, a brain region that recognizes personally relevant information becomes activated. This brain
activity can change how people respond to health advice. “In general, if you tell people that they sit too much and they need to change their behavior, they can become defensive. They’ll come up with reasons why the message doesn’t apply to them,” Falk says. But if people reflect on the things they value before the health message, the brain’s reward pathways are activated. This type of self-affirmation, Falk’s research shows, can help physically inactive “couch potatoes” get more active. In a recent study, inactive adults received typical health advice about the importance of moving more and sitting less. But before the advice, about half of the participants were asked to think about things that they value most. The “self-affirmation” group became more physically active during the monthlong study period that followed compared to the group that hadn’t engaged in selfaffirmation. “The study shows one way that we can open the brain to positive change and help people achieve their goals,” Falk says. Being open to positive change is a key to emotional wellness. “Sometimes people think that emotions just happen, kind of like the weather,” Fredrickson says. “But
research suggests that we can have some control over which emotions we experience.” As mounting research suggests, having a positive mindset might help to improve your physical health as well. References: Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Weng HY, Fox AS, Shackman AJ, Stodola DE, et al. Psychol Sci. 2013 Jul 1; 24 (7):1171-80. doi: 10.1177/0956797612469537. Epub 2013 May 21. PMID: 23696200. Mind of the meditator. Ricard M, Lutz A, Davidson RJ. Sci Am. 2014 Nov;311(5):38-45. PMID: 25508292. How positive emotions build physical health: perceived positive social connections account for the upward spiral between positive emotions and vagal tone. Kok BE, Coffey KA, Cohn MA, Catalino LI, et al. Psychol Sci. 2013 Jul 1;24(7):1123-32. doi: 10.1177/0956797612470827. Epub 2013 May 6. PMID: 23649562. Happiness unpacked: positive emotions increase life satisfaction by building resilience. Cohn MA, Fredrickson BL, Brown SL, Mikels JA, Conway AM. Emotion. 2009 Jun;9(3):361-8. doi: 10.1037/ a0015952. PMID: 19485613. Self-affirmation alters the brain's response to health messages and subsequent behavior change. Falk EB, O'Donnell MB, Cascio CN, Tinney F, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Feb 17;112(7):1977-82. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1500247112. Epub 2015 Feb 2. PMID: 25646442. Beyond Brain Mapping: Using Neural Measures to Predict Real-World Outcomes. Berkman ET, Falk EB. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2013 Feb;22(1):45-50. PMID: 24478540.
The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move
towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom. - bell hooks
HOUSING Supported Housing we provide affordable housing for over numerous clients. Caminar works closely with the Housing Authority to assist clients in accessing federal housing subsidy programs such as Shelter Plus Care, Section 8, and Aftercare. Phone: (650) 393-8906 Move to Work Program The MTW program assists families to rent housing in the private market by subsidizing a portion of each family’s monthly rent. In addition, the MTW program provides case management services, financial incentives and other supportive services to program participants. Website: https://www.smchousingwaitlist.org/ landing
OTHER RESOURCES San Mateo County Human Services Agency Job training, employment centers, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Housing Authority, child care, family support, economic development. work experience & placement for people who receive public assistance, are lowincome, or who have mental health concerns. Website: http://hsa.smcgov.org/ Phone: (650) 802-7507 San Mateo county Network of Care Website: http://sanmateo.networkofcare.org/mh/ index.aspx Phone: 211
FINANCIAL COACHING SparkPoint at Skyline college provides financial coaches who can work one-onone to do budget planning, credit score review, debt review and debt reduction planning, and more. Phone: 650.738.7035 Skyline College Building 1, floor 2, Room 1222 330 College Drive San Bruno, CA 94066
All about Love seeking safety: healthy boundaries If enough reasonable people tell you a relationship is bad, listen to them. You may feel so confused or Are you in any relationship right now in which some- controlled that you have lost touch with your own one: needs. Listen to others. 1. Offers you substance or uses in your presence after you’ve asked the person no to? It is better to be alone than in a destructive relaYES/NO tionship. It may be that for now, your only safe 2. Repeatedly criticizes you, ivalidat3es your relationships are with treaters. That’s okay, feelings, or humiliates you? YES/NO Destructive relationships can be addictive as drugs. 3. Manipulates you (e.g.. Threatens to harm your If you cannot stay away from someone you know is children?) bad for you, you may be addicted to that person. YES/NO Destructive relationships may feel familiar, and you 4. Is physically hurting you or threatening to you? may be drawn to them over and over if your main YES/NO relationships in life were exploitative. The best strat5. Discourages you from getting help (e.g. mediegy is the same as for all addictions: Actively, force cation, therapy, AA)? yourself to stay away, no matter how hard it feels to YES/NO do so. 6. Lies to you repeatedly? YES/NO Remember that you are no longer a child, forced to ~Ajen 7. Betrays your trust (e.g. tells your secrets to endure bad relationships. You have choices. others)? YES/NO Recognize the critical urgency of detaching from Healthy relationships are: 8. Makes unreasonable requests (e.g. demands bad relationships. They impair your recovery from that you pay for everything)? PTSD and substance abuse. They prevent you from Flexible. You are able to be both close and distant, YES/NO taking care of yourself and others (e.g children). adapting to the situation. You are able to let go of 9. Exploits you (e.g. sells pornographic pictures of relationships that are destructive. You are able to you)? Once you make a decision to leave a damaging connect with relationships that are nurturing. YES/NO relationships, the “how” will present itself. If you 10. Ignores your physical needs (e.g. refuses safe do no t know how to leave, it usually means that Safe. You are able to protect yourself against exsex)? you have not made the decision to leave. ploitation by others. You are able to read cues that YES/NO someone is abusive or selfish. 11. Is controlling and overinvolved (e.g. tells you If you feel guilty, remember that is your life to live. what to do)? You can just leave. Connected. You are able to engage in balanced YES/NO relationships with others and maintain them over Expect fallout. When you leave a bad relationship, time. As conflicts arise, you are able to work them If you said “YES” to any pf the questions above, read others may become angry or dangerous. Find ways out. below. You deserve better than destructive people! to protect yourself, including the support of people “on your side,” your treatment team, and a shelter if Both PTSD and substance abuse can result in unHOW TO DETACH FROM necessary. healthy boundaries. In PTSD, your boundaries (your DAMAGING RELATIONSHIPS body and your emotions) were violated by trauma. You do not have to explain yourself to the other It may be diifcult fo r you now to keep good bounda- If you have difficulty with boundaries, you may not person; you can just leave. ries in relationships. In substance absue, you have notice dangerous cues in others. This makes sense if lost boundaries with substances ( you use too much, you lived in a past in which veil of silence was imCreate an image to protect yourself. Fore example, an may act in ways you normally would not, such as posed, you were not allowed to express your feelyou are a knight in armor and you don’t have to let getting high and saying things you don’t mean). ings, or you could not tell others about your trauthe person in; you are a TV and you can change the Learning to establish health boundaries is an essen- ma. You may need to make special efforts now to channel. tial part of recovery from both disorders. notice your reactions to people and learn when to end relationships that are harmful. Try Co-dependents Anonymous. This is a twelveHealthy Boundaries Can Keep You Safe step group for people who become dependent on Someone doesn’t “get it”, , give up for now. In damaging relationships (call:602.277.7991) Learning to say “no” can ...keep you from getting early recovery, don’t waste your energy on changing AIDS (saying “no” to unsafe sex); keep you from other people; just focus on helping yourself. If some- You should never have to tolerate being physically using substances (saying “no” to substances); preone doesn’t understand you after you’ve tried to hurt by anyone. I f you are in a situation of domesvent exploitation (saying “no” to unfair demands); communicate directly, kindly, and repeatedly, find tic violence, t his is very serious and requires expert protect you from abusive relationships and domestic other people. help. You can call: National Domestic Violence Hotviolence. line: 800.799.7233 or National Resource Center on Even if you cannot leave a damaging relationships, Domestic Violence: 800.537.2238 Learning to say “yes” can … allow you to rely on you can still detach from it. If it is someone you others; let yourself be known to others; help you must see (such as family member), protect yourself If someone is physically hurting you, don’t buy into feel supported; get you through tough times. by not talking to that person about vulnerable top“I’ll be different next time.” If there is a pattern of ics, such as your trauma or your recovery. abuse after you have given someone repeated chances to treat you decently, get out. Listen to the person’s actions, not the words.
S
pring is fast approaching! In fact, it seems like it has been here for some time now. This is the time when many talk about love and budding new relationships. For some others, however, the word “love” can be triggering as it has been misdirected by boundary problems. The following guide is based on the Seeking Safety (Najavits, 2002) handout. Whether or not you are in a relationship, take some time to read it. This is valuable information to have or to share with a friend. If you have any questions, please talking it over with your counselor or case manager.
Getting out of Abusive Relationships
For the Love of Others speaking up for inclusion
RESOURCES Emergency/Crisis Hotlines
Caminar is committed to providing a welcoming, kind, and safe environment for all. We encourage each other (staff and clients alike) to SPEAK UP against bias / discrimination / hurtfulness / stereotypes / racism / homophobia / etc. True responsiveness includes the following key features:
Learning proactive responses to injustice If someone speaks up against hate, thank them! and addressing incidents of bias, discriminaMany voices together create change. If approprition, exclusion, and bullying in a timely ate (or later) check in with the person who was manner. targeted. Try saying: “Thanks for speaking up. I agree Intervening every time people tease, bully, that word is hurtful, and we shouldn’t use or use slurs and stereotypes. it.” Speaking up against jokes and criticism about different identity groups. Pointing out unfairness when it comes up.
Finding respectful and open-hearted ways to stand strong when faced with resistance to “controversial” topics.
(adapted from “Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education” which has helpful learning activities.) http://www.tolerance.org/module/critical-practices-anti-biaseducation-teacher-leadership
THE FOUR STEP MODEL TO SPEAK UP The four step model below is from “Speak Up at School: How to Respond to Everyday Prejudice, Bias and Stereotypes.” Appendix A. A Publication of Teaching Tolerance: www.teachingtolerance.org; http://www.tolerance.org/publication/speak-school
Feel free to practice with alone, with a peer who can benefit from this information or someone from your treatment team or support network.
INTERRUPT Speak up against every biased remark – every time, in the moment, without exception. Think about and practice what you will say ahead of time so you are prepared to act instantly. Try saying: “I don’t like words like that.” Or, “That phrase sounds hurtful to me.”
QUESTION Ask simple questions to find out both why the speaker made the offensive comment and how you can best address the situation. Be curious and non-judgmental. Try asking: “Why do you say that?” “What do you mean?” or, “Tell me more.”
EDUCATE Explain why a term or phrase is offensive. En-
MEDICAL EMERGENCY 911 SUICIDE HOTLINE 1-800-SUICIDE http://suicidehotlines.com/Self-Injury/
CUTTING 1-800-366-8288 http://www.selfinjury.com/
RUNAWAY HOTLINE 1-800-231-6946 http://www.nrscrisisline.org/
ECHO
courage the person to choose a different expression. The intent to hurt is not behind all offensive speech. Sometimes the cause is ignorance or a lack of exposure to diverse populations. Try asking: “Do you know the history of that word?” Try saying: “That word means ___.”
Developing skills and attitudes that help bridge cultural differences is a lifelong process. These include empathy, flexibility, listening without judgment, and appreciation for multiple cultural perspectives. Thank you for helping to make Caminar welcoming and inclusive. Recommended Exercise: Consider any offensive or hurtful statement
Read through the 4 actions (Interrupt, Question, Educate, Echo) and practice responding to the hurtful statement Discuss each action Share ideas and make any changes to improve the process Practice with other examples
Additional Recommended Exercises/ Activities: Create/display welcoming and inclusive
signs and art Identify and speak out about problems when they occur Start a dialog - everyone has a voice in the discussion) Create a safe place to discuss racism, stereotypes, bias, etc. Create/take a pledge, such as: “I am a person who will SPEAK UP when I hear hurtful speech. It Stops With Me. I pledge my support for the principles of fairness and inclusiveness (anti-bias and discrimination) and will take action against hurtful speech at Caminar and in society as a whole.”
https://itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au/resources/what-yousay-matters http://www.tolerance.org/module/critical-practices-anti-biaseducation-teacher-leadership www.teachingtolerance.org; http://www.tolerance.org/ publication/speak-school
CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE 1-800-422-4453 http://www.childhelpusa.org/
SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE 1-800-656-4673 http://www.rainn.org/
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 1-800-799-7233 http://www.ndvh.org/
ANTI-GANG HOTLINE 1-800-445-3632 BILL WILSON TEEN CRISIS HOTLINE 888-247-7717 http://www.billwilsoncenter.org/
ANTI-HATE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION HOTLINE (408) 2790111
Free Clinics & Health Services MAYVIEW COMMUNITY CLINIC ( MOUNTAIN VIEW ) (650) 965-3323 http://www.mayview.org/
RAVENSWOOD FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ( EAST PALO ALTO ) (650) 330-7400 http://www.epa.net/clinic/
ARBOR FREE CLINIC ( PALO ALTO ) (650) 724-1332 http://arbor.stanford.edu/
SAMARITAN HOUSE FREE CLINIC ( REDWOOD CITY ) (650) 839-1447 http://www.samaritanhouse.com/new/programs/medical_clinic.shtml
SAMARITAN HOUSE FREE CLINIC ( SAN MATEO ) (650) 347-1556 http://www.samaritanhouse.com/new/programs/medical_clinic.shtml
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services PLANNED PARENTHOOD 1-800-230-PLAN http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/healthservices/
AMERICA 'S PREGNANCY HELPLINE 1- 888-672-2296 http://www.thehelpline.org/
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD) HOTLINE 1-800227-8922 http://www.iwannaknow.org/
AIDS HOTLINE (ENGLISH) 1-800-342-2437 http://www.ashastd.org/nah/faqreg.html
For the Love of Your Community VOLUNTEER MATCH http://www.volunteermatch.org/ SAN MATEO VOLUNTEERSOURCE http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/ index.aspx?NID=2309 BAY AREA INFORMATION CENTER http://www.volunteerinfo.org/ THE VOLUNTEER CENTER http://www.thevolunteercenter.net/ HANDS ON BAY AREA http://www.handsonbayarea.org/
OTHER SITES WITH VOLUNTEER SEARCH FUNCTIONS Idealist.org Patch.org Indeed.org SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK http://www.shfb.org/volunteer SAN MATEO LIBRARY http://www.smcl.org/en/content/ volunteer SUSTAINABLE SAN MATEO http://www.sustainablesanmateo.org/ home/donatevolunteer/volunteeropportunities/ NAMI SAN MATEO COUNTY http://namisanmateo.org/volunteeropportunities-2/ SAN MATEO MEDICAL CENTER http://www.sanmateomedicalcenter.org/ content/Volunteer.htm
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT http://parks.smcgov.org/volunteers
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS http://www.fema.gov/communityemergency-response-teams Become trained via Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/local/ca/sanfrancisco Volunteer to provide “relief to those affected by disasters and empowers individuals in our community to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.” RECYCLE WORKS: PROGRAM OF SAN MATEO COUNTY http://www.recycleworks.org/ volunteer.html “Help out with your community and get involved in local efforts to preserve the environment. In San Mateo County you will find many opportunities to make a difference.” YMCA OF SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA http://www.ymcasf.org HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE http://sancarlosrestore.habitatgsf.org/ “Brief description of Organization: The ReStore is a volunteer driven retail store that funds building Habitat homes by selling donated home improvement items to the public.”
PENINSULA HUMANE SOCIETY & SPCA http://www.peninsulahumanesociety.org/ volunteer/ “build healthy relationships between people and animals. SAVE THE BAY http://www.savesfbay.org/volunteering “Restoration programs utilize community volunteers to ... enhance our region's quality of life.” SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH FOUNDATION http://www.smchf.org/donate/volunteer/ Volunteer opportunities at the Medical Center or at the Foundation office. SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL http://www.svdp-sanmateoco.org/ youthvolunteer.html Volunteer to help the homeless in San Mateo County. CITY ARTS OF SAN MATEO http://www.cityartsofsanmateo.org/ volunteer.htm Volunteer by sharing your talents and skills or learning new ones. SAN MATEO GARDEN CENTER http://sanmateogardencenter.org/ volunteer
YAIL Reflections YOUNG ADULT INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
For more information call us! 650.367.9610