Category: What’s New

Peer Support Specialist (PSS) – training and role
   July 22, 2026, 7:30-9:00 pm, zoom

   Ivan Ayebale, Assist Director, FERC (Family Education and Resource Center)
   The PSS role is a relatively new one in the county and is that awarded to an individual with lived experience in areas of mental health and substance abuse.  Having faced and moved on from those challenges and having comprehensive training,  the PSS helps others facing similar challenges.  Ivan, himself a PSS, will be giving us an update on the training and role PSSs are taking on in the county.

Join us for a casual and interactive evening.

Time: Jul 22, 2026 07:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 829 0966 5891
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Our June speaker will be Professor Alison Morantz from Stanford Law School.  As Director of Stanford’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Law and Policy Project, she teaches mental health law.  We have found an increasing mention of the autism diagnosis coming up in our support groups for families with a relative with mental illness and this poses questions about diagnosis, resources and further exploration. 

We also have a genetic researcher on board next month who will discuss her area as it applies to mental illness and autism.  Because of time differences with the East Coast, that will be presented in a different time format.

Zoom Meeting Recording and Speaker Notes can be found below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/wVh3Tx-JuyZCJ2bdc5P3lnqXEe57r9UDjK8fqZIEkLwvVhfO3xJej0hdFklmzo7C.WBv55cwBHf697M45 Passcode: b?C^uL1w

FASMI (Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill) is a local county organization dedicated to improving services for our loved ones with a mental illness.  Join us for our regular 4th Wednesday zoom  presentation on Wednesday, May 27, 7:30-9:00 (link below) when leaders Katy Polony, Alison Monroe, and others will share with us the changes they envision happening in the county under the provisions of Proposition 1.  We will be discussing efforts to counter and deal with the major cuts proposed by Alameda County Behavioral Health Care staff under the new guidelines.

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Meeting ID: 821 8122 5100
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Link to Recording of Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/zCeFdApFr-QFRDtoqK28fQVIrF9UYDCsQSpdWTWfkJnJB9SjCsRXPnPv1sGNEjIi.MfJQmVZ2Vwxhuf7X

Passcode: Q%2gqj#r

Speaker Notes Below

August 28, 7:30-9:00 pm on Zoom. 

  Stephen Dale, Attorney, will present on Special Needs Trusts. His website at www.dalelawfirm.com is a rich one and contains several educational videos which will be helpful as you consider and/or initiate this process, so crucial in planning for the future of your ill relative.

Recording and Speaker Notes can be found below:

Zoom Recording Passcode: +*F.kmV2

The Supportive Housing Community Alliance (SHCLA) is a new collaborative organization that uses the community land trust model to create and steward affordable supportive housing and  home ownership opportunities for and with people living with serious mental health conditions and extremely low income.  The land trust acquires homes and master leases them to adult residential  facility operators.   The model is  is one of community ownership, long term affordable availability and a resident-centered emphasis.  Website is www.shcla.land).

You can watch the video recording here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4khcizFxNCJblJL3hFYTJHPYysQKmfjePAjyQRiIKsTF9jjLk-RvqkmIACVRvdfH.-9wY_IA5b2YJoLKg

Passcode: PuY15z^u

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Wednesday, June 26, 7:30-9:00
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82783936531

Meeting ID: 827 8393 6531

 Join us as Abby Ingber, Executive Director of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, along with a parent and individual with lived experience, present to us. The website www.NEABPD.org is a wealth of information.

Gain a greater understanding BPD including diagnosis, stigma and treatment methods.  Hear from people diagnosed with BPD and family members about their journey and ways to find treatment and support. Presentation will be videotaped and posted here, along with a writeup.

Recording can be found below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/BJXEDPzvkXsXoFupJ7fcVUOKF2cmDiUk9MrqdOt18QT-INXv7QsYCEMQB7pcGJEV.b9XpBCMD-uluA7eF

Passcode: *r8nsUt2

Speaker Notes can be found here.

Inside John George Psychiatric Hospital 

      Wednesday, May 22, 7:30-9:00 – zoom link below

Most of us family members know John George only in a time of crisis when we’re experiencing a state of worry, exhaustion, confusion, fear, anxiety, sadness – you name it…every emotion in the book.  What really goes on there? 

Join us for a conversation with Patty  Espeseth, Chief Administrative Officer: Francesca Tenenbaum, Director Patients’ Rights and Advocacy Training; and Beverly Bergman, Family Caregiver  Advocacy Specialist.  These friends of NAMI are highly experienced and know the territory well.

Recording of the Meeting can be found here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/LIcB7lkQaLApnGwnUPHm4hYvjPnY-ZzsjWZRO1l0MnZxJ41TVfDawedYnbDHQtGl.SCEUXCe21OAdPIcJ

Passcode: y+vD12?B

Speaker Notes can be found here.