Light Up Green for Mental Health Month
Family Service Agency Advocates for Mental Wellness
May is the time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and help reduce the stigma so many experience. While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.
During May, Family Service Agency, Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center, and Guadalupe’s Little House By The Park join the national Mental Health Awareness Month movement. Community members can join the movement and increase their own understanding of mental illness with special events happening in May!
May 5 — Adults can take a Youth Mental Health First Aid course and learn how to be a “first responder” to a young person experiencing a medical health challenge. Visit BeTheDifferenceSB.org to sign up.
May 12 — Attend FSA’s presentation: The Youth Mental Health Crisis: Answering the Call with Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson, esteemed youth and child psychiatrist. This event takes place on May 12th, from 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club at Rockwood. As a public service, FSA will make a livestream version available to the public at no cost at 6:30 p.m. Visit fsacares.org/sarah-vinson to register.
May 20 — Wear green. Show your support for Mental Health Awareness Month by wearing your favorite green shirt, pants or other apparel on May 20. Share a photo with the hashtag #TogetherforMentalHealth to social media to let your network know that you are a mental health advocate.
May 21— Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches adults how to assist a young person experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis using specific steps. Visit BeTheDifferenceSB.org to sign up.
Family Service Agency
Donate now!www.fsacares.org
CEO: Lisa Brabo
(805) 965-1001 ext. 1240
Mission
Our mission is to strengthen and advocate for families and individuals of all ages and diversities, helping to create and preserve a healthy community.
Begin to Build a Relationship
We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s director of development and/or Executive Director.
FSA has always found a way to help those in need, expanding the depth of its programs when necessary. It is truly an asset to our community.
Help Those Most In Need
With the recent release of the Surgeon General’s report highlighting the severe challenges and stress parents are facing now, the Family Service Agency’s programs are in need now more than ever. Flexible funding helps FSA provide holistic support to multigenerational families throughout Santa Barbara.
Here’s how you can help:
•$100 – Buys a week’s worth of groceries for a family of four.
•$250 – Helps a family enroll in health insurance and access other critical services as part of their Family Support Services Program.
•$500 – Provides support for Youth Mental Health First Aid, a program that provides tools for caregivers to recognize and address mental health issues early on with their children.
•$1,000 – Pays for three months of mental health counseling for a senior or caregiver.
Board of Directors
Co-Presidents
Robert Janeway
Tricia Price
Co-VPs, Programs
Arianna Castellanos
Edward Tran
VP, Development
Maria McCall
Co-Treasurers
Blanca Mejia, J.D.
Linda Sessler
VP, Governance
Teressa Johnes
Secretary
Patty Herrera
Board Members
Shawn Carey
Courtney Cazenave
Paul Cordeiro
Ed Galanski
Alex Murkison
Ward Rafferty
Nancy Saengjaeng
Paul Van Meel