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PEERS invites you to attend a public forum on Tuesday, August 1st from 3 pm to 4:30 pm to speak up against SB 326.
This bill would modernize and reform the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which was passed as Proposition 63 by voters in 2004. It would expand services for substance abuse disorders and provide more resources for housing and workforce development. These improvements would come at the cost of existing prevention and early intervention services. Under the current Mental Health Services Act, Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) programs receive 19% of the allocated funds. SB 326 would replace PEI with a new category - Population-Based Prevention (PBP) - and reduce the funding allocations to just 5%. In Alameda County, this change translates to a drop from $20 million to $7 million in funding. Such a change would drastically impact our ability to provide vital services that help people before they are greatly affected by their mental health challenges. That’s why we’re showing up at public forums that the California Behavioral Health Planning Council is hosting throughout the month of August. These forums will give community members and healthcare providers a chance to provide their input on SB 326. The comments heard will be consolidated and included in the recommendations the Council provides to DHCS, the Legislature, and the Governors Administration. Make sure to register and join us at tomorrow's virtual forum. Find more info and ways to stay informed on SB 326 below.
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PEERS' Teens and Young Adults program is proud to present their 22-23 Impact Report. Inside you'll find an overview of the previous fiscal year for the program including stats, testimonials from participants, and highlights of the workshops offered to Alameda County youth. We have exciting news! We're hiring coordinators to oversee a couple of new programs we're adding in the coming months. See below for details and links to apply.
By PEERS Last month, California lawmakers unveiled SB 43, a bill that aims to expand the criteria by which individuals can be detained for mental health treatment. It would expand the definition of “gravely disabled” to make it easier to involuntarily detain people for forced treatment. We, the staff of PEERS, stand in opposition to SB 43. We believe people should be free to choose among many mental health options that address their needs as a whole person. That’s why we’ve joined a group of mental health organizations from across California in opposing this bill. The group, led by Disability Rights California, believes that the Legislature should invest in evidence-based, community-defined programs and services that are proven to meet the needs of Californians living with serious mental disabilities, including affordable, accessible housing with voluntary support services. Together, we’ve submitted a letter to Senator Eggman, the author of SB 43, outlining the reasons we oppose this bill. Here is an excerpt from the letter:
The full letter goes into further detail into the reasons why we oppose SB 43. Read it in its entirety below. By Leah Harris This month, you may see references to both “Autism Acceptance Month” and “Autism Awareness Month.” What’s the story behind these dueling months?
By Leah Harris During Black History and Black Futures Month in February, Massachusetts-based Wildflower Alliance, in collaboration with New Life II in Connecticut, launched a live and virtual exhibit entitled Black Movement History Leaders, Past and Present.
The exhibit honors the leadership of Black Californians, including Keris Jän Myrick, Kelechi Ubozoh, and Gogo Ekhaya Esima. By PEERS As Black History Month comes to an end, we want to share a collection of poems written by the members of Lift Every Voice and Speak. Each of these poems centers the writer's experience and shares something unique. We hope you enjoy them and continue to uplift and listen to Black voices beyond Black History Month.  Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash By Leah Harris
There’s intense social pressure, especially around the time of New Year’s, to set goals to be better, grind harder, be more efficient, and ever-healthier and more well. In recent years, many are wisely beginning to revolt against New Year’s resolutions that reinforce the toxic cultural push towards relentless self-improvement and machine-like productivity.  Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash By Leah Harris
CW: fatphobia, body shaming The holidays can be stressful for all kinds of reasons. Parties and social interactions can be rewarding, but draining. There are all the expectations and financial stress around holiday gift-giving and consumerism. For fat people, these stresses are compounded by anticipating and experiencing fatphobia and body-shaming while attending holiday gatherings. Thankfully, fat liberation activists have developed a variety of practical resources to lessen the pain and humiliation of anti-fatness during the holiday season. Here is some of their collected wisdom. After receiving a mental health diagnosis, journalist Stephanie Foo embarks on journey to answer one question: can complex PTSD be cured? What followed was a sprawling exploration of race, culture, history, and complex trauma, which she details in her memoir, "What My Bones Know".
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About usPEERS’ mission is to build a diverse community of people with mental health experiences who provide culturally responsive, peer-based wellness strategies and work together to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
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