INDEPENDENT LIVING

OLIVOS

JOBSPLUS

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT

MEDICATION CLINIC

SUPPORTED HOUSING

ANNUAL REPORT2013

COUNTIES:

SAN MATEO

SOLANO

BUTTE

SAN FRANCISCO

Dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities by providing opportunities to live with dignity and independence in the community

NED MATHESBoard President

DENNIS PANTANOBoard co-vice president

LORI PAULINBoard co-vice president

RICHARD VAN DOREN, JR.Treasurer

WINDI SNEARLYSecretary

CHIP HUGGINSCEO

CAROL WHITFIELD

KAREN MCCOWN

LIA KISON

MARIE KOERPER

MICHELLE LEU ZACCONE

STEVE PORTER

SUZAN GETCHELL-WALLACE

TED ROBINSON

TED STINSON

This past year was once again marked by significant changes, internally and externally for Caminar, with the roll out of the Affordable Health Care Act and internal continuous improvement, demonstrating our clinical efficacy, cost savings, consumer and funder satisfaction. Through the support and funding from our community partners, Peninsula Health Care District and Sequoia Health Care District, we have expanded our Bridges to Wellness program, integrating physical and mental health to the clients we serve in San Mateo County.

As we prepare to celebrate our 50th year of providing quality services to people with disabilities so they can live quality lives by providing opportunities to live in the community with dignity and independence, we will continue to partner with our customers and clients to provide quality services that allow individuals with disabilities to live longer, healthier, and more hopeful lives. Our 50th anniversary celebration will mark the 4th year of “In concert with Caminar: breaking the stigma of mental illness”. Featuring prominent artists and members of our community to speak about their experiences with mental illness. (Space holder for date and artist)

We continue to invest in our employees, the single most important asset we bring to the work of helping people with serious mental health and developmental disabilities to recover and improve their lives. We know that cultivating dynamic and engaged employees is critical to supporting clients in the process of recovery. Our employee’s benefits and professional development opportunities exceed those organizations we compete with.

At Caminar, we are committed to delivering exceptional cutting-edge quality services, using state-of-the-art technology, integrated best practices of our services and securing housing and employment for all that we serve.

Sincereley,

NED MATHES CHIP HUGGINSPresident CEO

President/CEO’s Letter

NED MATHES CHIP HUGGINS

Mental illness touches 1 in 4 individuals and in San Mateo County this translates into more than 140,000 adults. Caminar is doing its part to address those with severe and persistent mental illness in San Mateo county by providing services such as intensive case management, medication clinic, residential facilities, supported education, supported housing and supported vocational services to over 1,400 individuals in 2013.

Redwood House is our licensed crisis residential program that provides an alternative to hospitalization for those experiencing acute and distressing psychiatric crisis. Redwood House provides a multitude of services designed to help our clients gain independence, mental and physical wellness and life management skills to eventually live successfully in the community. We offer clients therapeutic groups which aim to address psychiatric symptoms as well as activity groups and educational groups such as exercise, healthy habits and menu planning. In 2013 80% of our clients leaving Redwood House were able to gain enough skills to live more independently.

We serve our most medically fragile and acute clients through our Full Service Partnership (FSP) program which offers greater staff to client ratio for intensive case management services, a traveling in-home nurse and financial housing assistance. In 2013 we have helped our FSP clients reduce their incarceration days by 98% and reduce hospitalizations by 91%.

Wellness Recovery Action Plan Program (WRAPP)

works with our most independent clients by providing personalized rehabilitation services to people who

need support while they develop

and work towards accomplishing their

life goals. Last year 27% of WRAPP clients graduated from the public mental health system, or now need medication only services.

Our supported housing program provides clients with assistance in accessing federal housing subsidy programs and low cost housing. Last year this program provided services to 334 individuals and over 99% maintained their residences for at least 12 months.

Caminar also provides Supported Education, a nationally recognized service to individuals who wish to pursue post-secondary education at the College of San Mateo. Academic counselors assist participants with registration, financial aid and academic advising while Program Instructors provide specialized courses in Symptom Management and Peer Counseling. Last school year Transition to College students had an average GPA of 3.4.

MENTAL ILLNESSTOUCHES

1in 4INDIVIDUALS

Caminar also serves Transitioned Aged Youth through our YAIL case management program and our Youth Empowerment and Safety (YES) program. YES provides Seeking Safety skills to youth who have experienced trauma. Through community-based engagement of youth YES groups teach young people to develop positive and effective coping skills, reduce addictive behaviors, develop a network of supportive people, and learn to successfully manage day-to-day challenges.

San Mateo RegionWe all know the reputation of San Mateo County, it’s arguably the best place to live and work, and the numbers and statistics bear this out. San Mateo ranks near the top in per capita income, per household income. San Mateo’s overall health ranking is 4th, which is attributable to nonprofits such as Caminar working tirelessly on your behalf to bring about healthy outcomes for 2013.

FY11/12

FY12/13

SAN MATEO

1

11

17

3

32

8

11

3

SOLANO

SAN MATEO

Graduations

Step Downs

SOLANO

Solano RegionTLaurel Creek is Solano regions crisis residential facility which provides an alternative to hospitalization for those experiencing a psychiatric crisis. Laurel Creek provided a safe place for Sandy Costa to hit rock bottom. Sandy’s husband had died and she did not have a job or savings which made her susceptible to a psychiatric crisis. Her major depression hindered her ability to function as she normally would and she needed the guidance of Laurel Creek to get her back on her feet. The assistance she received from Laurel Creek allowed Sandy to feel “safe and protected”. She states, “The support of the program helped me think through things, and slowly, I was able to set some small goals. I was able to get back in touch with home again, and I know without staying at Laurel Creek I would not have found hope as quickly as I did.” Sandy now has secure housing and her mental health is stable. She has worked for Caminar at the Wellness and Recovery Center for nearly 3 years and says,

“Working as a peer counselor gives me a great sense of satisfaction. I look forward to going to work. My co-workers are wonderful and I feel Caminar provides a safe and supportive environment for all staff but especially those who have lived with a mental illness. “68% of adults with a mental health disorder also have at least one medical condition. In our Solano region we strive to address both health concerns by combining our Medication Clinic and Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs. FSP is an intensive case management program designed to assist our most chronically ill clients and streamlines the process of a holistic health care. Last year Caminar expanded FSP services to include a new facility and 26 more adults while also enabling five clients to gain enough skills and independence to step down into a lower level of care and.

Comprehensive Case Management (CCM) is Solano’s newest mid-level case management program. Both CCM and

management services to help our clients become more independent within the community setting while concurrently working towards accomplishing their individualized self-directed care plan. Last year 12 clients were able to step down to a lower level of care from these case management programs.

Having a place to call home is such an important aspect of recovery and essential to one’s overall wellbeing. Caminar understands this basic need and strives to eliminate homelessness in our client population by providing a supported housing program. This program includes Laurel Gardens, a permanent independent living home for low-income individuals with disabilities and Gateway, a 30 day transitional residential facility with case management.

Wellness and Recovery Center is a safe and welcoming drop in center for anyone with a known or suspected mental health diagnosis. The center provides support groups focusing on education and pre-employment preparation, one-on-one counseling, peer support, individualized relapse prevention plans and a daily warm lunch. Last year more than 250 individuals participated in groups and many reported a change in symptomology and a greater connection to their community as a result of engaging with the center.

The support of the program helped me

get back in touch with home again

68%

Of adults with a mental health disorder also have at least one medical condition