December 9, 2022 - Season of Gratitude - Juan J. Flores, LMFT Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

In our hectic lives, with all of our responsibilities and commitments, quiet reflection on gratitude can be easily misplaced. The winter season, full of holidays for some, offers us a chance to reconnect to the mental health benefit of realizing we have so much to be thankful for, followed up by demonstrating that gratitude to the world so that the spirit of gratitude is as infectious as a winter cold, but as healthy as a warm bowl of chicken soup for the soul.
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December 16, 2022 - Casa Serena - Maria Ruiz, MSW Deputy Director Mental Health Triage and Engagement Services

Sometimes people in our community, suffering serious mental health symptoms that are disrupting their lives, need safe harbor, a port in the storm to stay safe and avert a potentially dangerous mental health crisis. Casa Serena provides that safe harbor, falling under the prevention portion of the continuum of care, providing supportive elements of in-patient services for those who are having a mental health crisis before the crisis escalates. Join us as Deputy Director Maria Ruiz comes and talks more in depth about this new program
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December 23, 2022 - Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Prevention Services - Danny Gutierrez Community Service Worker Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Program

Youth continue to face unique challenges in the COVID-19 post-pandemic environment. The transition back to school has been beneficial to some, but not all, and access to substances is facilitated. Too Good For Drugs is an evidenced-based substance use prevention program that focuses on facts and decision-making practices in a group setting. This program is currently being adopted to remote learning environments. Join our guest, Danny Gutierrez, as he discusses the 12 session curriculum, its benefits, and the challenges of adapting from a classroom setting to a virtual one. 
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December 30, 2022 - When Loves Goes Into Food: Mental Health Support From a Meal

Research finds that people who eat home-cooked meals on a regular basis tend to be happier and healthier as they consume less sugar and processed foods, which can results in higher energy levels and better mental health. As those who have discovered the joy of cooking can attest, the magic of combining ingredients into flavors that nurture and sustain our loved ones fulfills and inspires us. Join us Rina Godoy and Roberto Perez, the owner and head chef of Antojitos Como En Casa Restaurant as they share their story and their passion for adding love to food.
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February 10, 2022 - Imperial County Behavioral Health’s Crisis Care Mobile Unit: An Evolution of Community Care - Maria Ruiz, MSW Deputy Director Mental Health Triage and Engagement Services Jose Alvarez Program Supervisor Mental Health Triage

Imperial County Behavioral Health is in the process of teaming with law enforcement, local hospitals and schools to deliver mobile crisis support to community members experiencing mental health distress. The beginnings of the project have already shown that this professional intervention commonly results in earlier treatment engagement, necessitating a lower level of care. This increases the safety of the person and the community while also saving significant amounts of spending that result from higher levels of care. It’s a win win win win: better services, delivered at a lower cost, more safely, and supporting our local agency partners. Join us as we detail the programs, review the data, and learn more about this evolutionary step in local community mental health.
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February 17, 2022 - Healthy Adult Relationship During a Pandemic - Sergio Felipe Hernandez, AMFT Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist Mental Health Counselor Youth and Young Adult Services

Adulthood contains a number of life challenges, possibly including the beginning or ending of romantic relationships, career choices, parenting, aging, and adult steps and stages. With therapist Sergio Hernandez, we focus on all of these relational aspects in the context of this pandemic. He shares common concerns and helpful strategies in supporting ourselves and other adults through the remainder of the pandemic and its restrictions
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February 24, 2022 - Children and Adolescent Services: Shifting the Focus for Better Outcomes - Christine Garcia, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker Psychiatric Social Worker Children and Adolescent Services ICBHS- El Centro

One in five children needs mental health support in any given year. Providing this support offers a pathway to successful outcomes with school and family. Children and Adolescent Services provides a wide variety of evidenced-based practices that specifically target children’s mental health concerns. Join us as we explore the ongoing development of more treatment services for children.
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March 3, 2022 - Southwest High School HOSA: Supporting Student Mental Health - Dominique and Hanna Southwest High School HOSA: Future Health Professionals and Founding Members of the Coalition for Students Wellness at Southwest High School

The Southwest High School HOSA: Future Health Professionals and Founding Members of the Coalition for Student Wellness at Southwest High School has for the past several years initiated a number of mental health supporting interventions on their campus that have met with state-level acclaim and shown campus level results. Now, coming off a pandemic year, HOSA student leaders join us to talk about their interventions in the pandemic, as well as their planning and progress towards a mentally healthy return to campus this fall.
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