LOCAL RESOURCES (Part 2)

These references are not construed as providing medical/legal advice nor endorsements. These represent the positive experiences and practical knowledge collected and updated as data becomes available. The local area covered is Alameda County with smatterings of references in the greater San Francisco Bay area.

Local Government

• Alameda County Mental Health Board

  Board Meeting - 6 to 8:30pm - Third TUESdays (except August) - Public comment at end of each meeting

  Held at Behavioral Health Care Services, OAKLAND, 2000 Embarcadero Cove (Changed 10/2004)

  "Adult/Front Door" Committee - 1:30-3:30pm - First Wednesdays (except August) - Public encouraged to help - Call Marsha McInnis (Chair) 925/606-7314 for location

• Valley Mental Health Advisory Committee

  Board Meeting - Every other month

  Valley Community Support Center - 3730 Hopyard Rd - Pleasanton

  Call Marsha McInnis - 925/606-7314 for next date and time.

  We need more family members of mentally ill to become active in quality BHCS care and to identify what the greatest mental health needs are in our Tri-Valley area.

• Welfare and Institutions Code (a 14 page PDF file containing extracts from California Statutes)

Educational Classes

"Family to Family" is a 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe brain disorders. Taught by trained family members. Focuses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). Discusses clinical treatments and teaches knowledge/skills to cope effectively. REGISTER EARLY. Class last year was full by mid-June. Course instruction and materials free to participants.

E-Mail Russ/Donna White 925/455-6901 for Livermore location - [Same course might also be offered in Berkeley (Vivian Jackson 510/841-8361) and Castro Valley (Steve Bischoff 510/835-5010)]

The IN OUR OWN VOICE program helps eliminate the stigma that goes along with mental illness. The presentation is given by local consumers (individuals with mental illnesses) who are leading productive lives despite their challenges. They talk about their own lives and how they have been affected by mental illness. This live program interacts with a professional videotape covering:

• Dark days
• Acceptance
• Treatment
• Coping Skills
• Successes
• Hopes and Dreams

Local Area Schools for Minors

• K12 - Toll Free 866/512-2273

  Offers publically funded (tuition free) California Virtual Academies and home-based partner schools. Curriculum for K12 is directed by William Bennett (author of "The Book of Virtues"). Many of these home-based public schools in California provide K12's curriculum, a computer, and materials.

  Local counties: Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Santa Clara

• Valley Christian Schools - Dublin K-12
• Vineyard Home-School Program - Livermore School District

Out of Alameda County - Counseling/Treatment Centers and Hospitals

• Amen Clinic For Behavioral Medicine - Fairfield - 707/429-7181

  Specializes in ADD - Initial Intake Evaluation $625 - Spectral brain photography with radiation dye $1000 per image set - ADD Self-test

• Child Specialty Hospital - Vallejo
• Discovery Counseling Center serving San Ramon Valley - Danville - 925-837-0505
• John Muir Hospital - Pediatric Psychiatric Ward - Mt.Diablo Medical Pavilion
• San Helenas - Napa - 28 day program
• Stanford University School of Medicine - Bipolar Disorders Clinic - 650/498-9111

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