San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, Inc.

The Center is currently participating in DMH and UCLA Countywide Consumer Perception Surveys from May 18-22. All Center clients and their caregivers have the opportunity to participate and let their voices be heard. If you are a client at the Center or caregiver. contact the staff at your program for details.

Our Valley Employment Services program held an Open House on May 15th for clients to celebrate Mental Health Day and move their lives forward with employment!

Center clients were invited to meet the VES team to explore job opportunities and get their employment questions answered.

The VES team helps clients start building their careers and supports their success. Services include:
- Work History Development
- Workplace & Computer Skills Training
- Resume & Interview Preparation
- Job Search & Placement Assistance
- Professional Attire & Grooming Support
- Transportation Resources

Support the Center as we work to Move Lives Forward: www.MovingLivesForward.org
The Center is Hiring! https://www.movinglivesforward.org/support-us/join-our-team/
Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.movinglivesforward.org/newsletter/

May is Mental Health Month
Learn More: https://conta.cc/4u8r3Ls
1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental health condition each year, and less than half of them receive treatment.

We know that around half of all people in the U.S. will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lives. We also know that communities who are targeted by racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and other forms of systemic oppression and violence can face an even heavier mental health burden because of these harms.
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ACEs stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. These involve aspects of a child's/adult's environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding, such as living in a household with substance misuse, abuse, neglect, violence, or mental health concerns, and additional unaddressed trauma. Approximately 61% of adults have at least one ACE in their history. Preventing ACEs can reduce the number of adults with depression by as much as 44%. The Center provides services to help overcome ACEs and Toxic Stress and prevent them in the future.
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At our 55th Anniversary Gala, we honored Actor, Writer, Blogger and Mental Health Advocate Wil Wheaton, whose courage to use his voice to fight stigma has helped others struggling with mental health issues and trauma get the help and support they need. Wil lent his voice to support our mission to provide accessible mental health care to children, adults, and families in the San Fernando Valley.

Select the video on the Learn More link to hear Wil speak openly and honestly about his mental health struggles, challenges, and successes. "I get to be the person I need in the world, and I get to pay forward the kindness and support so many people gave me while I was in the early years of recovery and scared to death that I would suffer night terrors, panic attacks, and uncontrollable anxiety for the rest of my life."
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Join the Center as we work to End the Stigma and Move Lives Forward.
www.MovingLivesForward.org

The Center is Hiring! https://www.movinglivesforward.org/support-us/join-our-team/
Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.movinglivesforward.org/newsletter/

May is Jewish American Heritage Month
Learn More: https://conta.cc/431bMQB
Established in 2006, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) commemorates more than 350 years of Jewish history in America. It is an opportunity to celebrate the many ways Jews have positively impacted all facets of American society.

Jewish Americans have been at the forefront of many of this nation's seminal moments — fighting for the Union in the Civil War, marching and advocating early and often for civil rights, and suffrage for women. Likewise, Jewish Americans have served in government and the military, won Nobel prizes, headed universities and corporations, advanced medicine, created and performed in enduring works of performing and visual art, written great American novels, and become emblems of justice as members of the Supreme Court.

As we celebrate these accomplishments, we must also recognize the bigotry and violence that Jews have faced throughout history, and that shamefully persist to this day. Hate crimes, including those derived from antisemitism, can have devastating physical, psychological and societal consequences.

Throughout our history, generations of Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution have sought the promise of freedom and opportunity to start life anew in America. This month, we recognize the enduring faith, perseverance, and resilience of the Jewish people and pay tribute to the many ways that Jewish Americans enrich our society.
www.MovingLivesForward.org

The Center is Hiring! https://www.movinglivesforward.org/support-us/join-our-team/
Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.movinglivesforward.org/newsletter/

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month
Learn More: https://conta.cc/4dtYcLv
Individuals of Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Island heritage have contributed to the nation's cultural richness and helped forge its economic and intellectual vigor. In Los Angeles alone, the AA and NHPI communities constitute about 16% of the population, with over six million Californians of AA and NHPI descent.

Despite the countless contributions of the AA and NHPI communities to this nation, there has been ongoing racism, harassment, and hate crimes. Confronting past and present racism and advocating for the safety and inclusion of our AA and NHPI friends and neighbors is crucial.

Traumatic events and generational trauma profoundly affect mental health, yet significant stigma remains around seeking help. The concurrence of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month with Mental Health Awareness Month is more relevant than ever.
www.MovingLivesForward.org

The Center is Hiring! https://www.movinglivesforward.org/support-us/join-our-team/
Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.movinglivesforward.org/newsletter/

Everyone deserves to celebrate 🎉

A huge thank you to for donating mini birthday in a box kits and hygiene essentials for our clients! Each box comes packed either everything needed for a simple but meaningful birthday celebration 🎈

Congratulations to Sandra Quinteros for being an outstanding leader in safety. Your dedication, vigilance, and commitment to protecting others truly set the standard. Thank you for always going above and beyond—your work makes a real difference.

April 24th is Genocide Remembrance Day
Learn More: https://conta.cc/4maaL1e
Genocide commemoration is more than a history lesson. It is a powerful tool to engage people across generations in the sanctity of human rights. It also provides opportunities for healing and sends a powerful signal about our values.

This is a day to reflect on past and present genocides and those who have felt the impact of these atrocities. This is also a day to reflect on the importance of promoting mental health and well-being. In the wake of these genocides, there is multi-generational trauma that follows. Survivors and descendants of genocide often suffer from trauma and other mental health challenges. Our Center takes a trauma-informed approach to care.

We honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in genocides and mass atrocities around the world. Through awareness and education, we can work towards preventing future atrocities and supporting those who have been affected by past ones.
www.MovingLivesForward.org

The Center is Hiring! https://www.movinglivesforward.org/support-us/join-our-team/
Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.movinglivesforward.org/newsletter/