24-hr Crisis Lines:
855.278.4204 (Santa Clara) |
650.579.0350 (San Mateo) |
415.781.0500 (San Francisco) |
800.273.8255 or Text BAY to 741-741 (National)
CHC is thrilled to introduce a new podcast series, Voices of Compassion.
2020. The year that will not end. We started with COVID-19 in March and sheltering in place. And then layered on school closure and added distance learning. On top of that, we’ve experienced social unrest regarding race and tens of thousands of people evacuated due to wildfires. How much more can we take?
October is the month in which we highlight the need for depression awareness and accessible and affordable mental health screenings. Read more ›
The goal of ADHD Awareness Month is to raise awareness of ADHD, remove the stigma, and highlight the available supports that enable individuals and families to thrive with ADHD. Read more ›
In 1990, the American Psychological Association (APA) accredited a consortium internship program between Children’s Health Council (CHC) and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford (LPCH). Thirty years later, the prestigious program receives well over 100 applications annually for just four spots, attracting the top doctoral students from around the country. Read more ›
Dr. Vidya Krishnan, Head of Adolescent Mental Health Services and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Children’s Health Council, appeared on KTVU News to discuss strategies for coping with the anxiety and stress many families are experiencing as children head back to school remotely.
Dr. Krishnan recommends partnering with your child.
“You aren’t going to walk this walk alone,” said Dr. Krishnan. “I am with you every step of the way. We will figure it out together.”
As for concerns with socialization, experts suggest adapting to socializing remotely and allowing for more video interaction and play. Kids can also do a joint activity.
“Maybe the two of them can watch a movie or watch a show and they can talk about something,” said Dr. Krishnan. “It can sometimes break the ice for kids who don’t do that well on a remote medium.”
Experts said it’s not a “one size fits all” approach. It’s best for parents to be aware of their children’s needs and what works best for their family.
Excerpted from “Mental health experts on managing back to school anxiety amid pandemic” on KTVU.com. Read the full article.
See the COVID-19 Information & Resource Center in CHC’s free, online Community Resource Library for helpful articles, videos, online learning materials, health information, and more.
Half Moon Bay resident Rosalie Whitlock is one person focused on the effects of the pandemic on the well-being of kids. She is the CEO of the Children’s Health Council, which operates schools to support kids with learning disabilities and offers mental health counseling.
Whitlock said that during the pandemic she’s seeing more kids who need help. Part of the impact of the pandemic is that inequality has become more stark, especially when it comes to access to resources. In education, larger families or those with parents who work multiple jobs are simply at a disadvantage when it comes to executing remote learning. And the same is true with access to technology.
Those inequalities, Whitlock said, heighten mental health problems. Many people are overwhelmed with anxiety about not finding work, having enough money to put food on the table or fear of the virus itself. She said it’s affecting kids’ mental health, and many don’t know where to turn for help they can afford.
“There are very few kids or adults that are not experiencing some kind of anxiety right now due to COVID, and they need help,” Whitlock said. “That needs to be addressed.”
Often, Whitlock said, resources available on the Coastside aren’t enough, so families turn to independent schools or sessions elsewhere in the county for greater support. She said driving students out of town isn’t a solution available to everyone.
Instead, telehealth is presenting new opportunities to reach patients — including Coastside kids — who previously may not have been able to travel far for treatment. Plus, Whitlock said, she can hire therapists who can’t afford to work in the Bay Area. And some kids actually feel more comfortable and are more open on a remote appointment even as others face challenges of finding a quiet, safe place to talk.
One effect of the pandemic Whitlock hopes does last is the heightened conversation around mental health issues. Whitlock predicts the anxiety from the pandemic won’t go away anytime soon, but she hopes the new conversations it has sparked won’t either.
“We’re never going to go back to the way we were,” Whitlock said. “This pandemic has changed how we’re going to do everything, and give us better access to those who are underserved.”
Excerpted from “Health Council CEO Spotlights Mental Health” in Half Moon Bay Review. Read the full article.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Mental Health month creates awareness about the unique experiences and struggles individuals who identify as BIPOC encounter with respect to mental health. Read more ›
For young people who struggle with suicidal and/or self-harm urges and behaviors, Stanford Children’s Health in collaboration with Children’s Health Council, offers a specialized intervention program that is currently enrolling families for their summer/fall session. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
We are excited to announce that, beginning this week, limited assessment and evaluation services will now be available in-person at CHC. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
We are all struggling to process the upsetting events that are unfolding in our country right now. We stand with our communities to oppose racism, hatred and bigotry of any kind and we continue to work each and every day with our colleagues, friends and neighbors to realize a vision of hope for the future.
Read more ›
CHC is offering free online community education sessions and virtual parent support groups that address your challenges and concerns and provide strategies and resources to support your child, your family and yourself as we navigate this time of disruption and uncertainty.
We’re all in this together, and CHC is here to help. Read more ›
Join us as we figure out how to cope in place. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
Shelter in place. Be a perfect parent. Be an instant teacher. Be an outstanding employee.
Many of us are being expected to be all things to all people, all at once. Not surprisingly, the strain is taking a toll on our mental health. CHC can help you and your family wherever you are on this emotional and unpredictable journey. Read more ›
Chris Harris, Chief Schools Officer for CHC and the Interim head of Sand Hill School, has been honored with a Community Hero Award for his exemplary service as a professional educator who “has taken the extra steps in providing behavioral health services by going beyond his job description.” Read more ›
Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to educate the community about mental and behavioral health issues, promote access to care and treatment, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges. Read more ›
The United State Department of Education has announced a new grant program offering $307.5 million in funds for states to “create adaptable, innovative learning opportunities for K-12 and postsecondary learners in response to the COVID-19 national emergency.” Read more ›
Our partners at Stanford Medicine have recently launched an incredibly helpful initiative called the National Daily Health Survey. The information collected will help inform policymakers and public guidance as we work globally to fight the spread of COVID-19. Read more ›
Dr. Ramsey Khasho, chief clinical officer at Children’s Health Council, appeared on KTVU News to discuss how parents can address children’s negative behavior during the COVID-19 health crisis. Read more ›
With local youth and families sheltering at home, counseling sessions and support groups that used to take place face-to-face in school wellness centers, clinics and private offices across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties have gone completely virtual. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
As we continue to navigate the catastrophic physical tolls of COVID-19, there is growing concern about the impact of the crisis on our mental health. A recent Washington Post article states that “the pandemic has escalated into a nationwide psychological trauma,” adding, “if you’re scared, anxious, depressed, struggling to sleep through the night, or just on edge, you’re not alone.” Read more ›
California’s schools chief Tony Thurmond is recommending that the state’s public schools plan to provide distance learning to students through the end of their school year. Read more ›
The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors, critical government services, schools, childcare, and construction, including housing construction.
Read more ›
Gov. Gavin Newsom advised school districts on Tuesday that they should expect to be closed the rest of the school year. On Wednesday, a 75-minute webinar led by the California Department of Education, viewed by about 7,000 people, provided guidance on how to provide distance learning, meals for students and limited child care while schools are shut down because of the coronavirus. Read more ›
Our thoughts are with you and your families during this unprecedented time. We are all doing our best to slow down and care for one another while we navigate uncharted territory with patience, kindness and grace.
CHC remains committed to the children, teens and young adults with learning and mental health challenges throughout the Bay Area, today and always. Read more ›
Comcast’s Internet Essentials helps connect low-income families to the internet at home. New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service, which is available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95 per month plus tax. Read more ›
Dear Parents, Clients and Friends of CHC,
The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly and we want to keep you informed so you can make plans for your family. As you know, earlier today six Bay Area counties issued Shelter-In-Place orders: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Alameda and Contra Costa. You can access details about this order here. As a result, CHC’s Palo Alto, Ravenswood and South Bay offices will close at midnight on March 16. Most mental health services will be addressed via telehealth. Read more ›
Dear Parents, Clients and Friends of CHC,
As we all make our way through the uncharted waters of COVID-19, the health and safety of our clients, students, families and staff are the top priority, so we are reaching out to you. The situation remains fluid. Guidelines have been changing on a daily/hourly basis. Our Emergency Response Team has been closely monitoring the rapidly-changing situation so we can make responsible decisions and keep you informed. Read more ›
We are continuing to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 at CHC and as a result, we are planning to deliver the remainder of our Community Education sessions online. Read more ›
On Wednesday, March 4, Reddit announce that is has joined forces with Crisis Text Line, a text message based crisis support hotline, to provide counseling to users who might be at risk of self harm. Anyone on Reddit can now flag a fellow user who they think might be struggling with self-harm or suicide based on something they post on the site. Read more ›
Dear Parents, Clients and Friends of CHC,
As you are no doubt aware, several cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) were diagnosed in Santa Clara County this weekend. Global circumstances suggest and experts recommend preparing for more widespread transmission. Read more ›
Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps is being honored as PRWeek’s Communicator of the Year in recognition of his work to reduce stigma around depression and mental health issues. Read more ›
One in eight students in California receives special education services, but the state’s schools are often “ill-equipped” to serve them, and funding for students with disabilities has not “kept pace with district costs,” according to a collection of research papers released Tuesday by Policy Analysis for California Education. Read more ›
For students with mental health challenges so severe that they become insurmountable barriers to learning and functioning, nonpublic schools can be life-saving. Read more ›
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing commissioners will distribute the California Dyslexia Guidelines across the full spectrum of educator preparation programs in California including teacher preparation, induction, administrator preparation, and pupil personnel services programs. Read more ›
As many as one in four children with autism go undiagnosed — and, the majority of those in whom the disorder is missed are black or Hispanic. Read more ›
A screening tool developed by Bay Area pediatricians to identify adverse childhood experiences, ranging from homelessness and food insecurity to physical and sexual abuse, will now help doctors statewide address trauma affecting patients’ health. Read more ›
On November 1, 2019, CHC was honored to receive a 2019 Community Partnership Award from Stanford University at a special ceremony held at the Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto, California.
Three community groups that focus on children’s health, welfare and education have won Stanford University 2019 Community Partnership Awards.
This year’s award winners are the Children’s Health Council, CrashCourse and Future Advancers of Science and Technology. Read more ›
The mission of ADHD Awareness Month is to educate the public about ADHD by disseminating reliable information based on the evidence of science and peer-reviewed research. Read more ›
The U.S. Department of Education announced $71.6 million in new funding to enhance safety in schools and improve student access to mental health resources. The Depart of Education made the awards under four grant programs, which support recommendations identified in the final report issued by the Federal Commission on School Safety. Read more ›
Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place from October 6 – 12, 2019. Every year during Mental Illness Awareness Week, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) works to educate the public, eliminate stigma and advocate for better access to mental health care. Read more ›
An extension of the nation’s primary autism law was approved on September 30, 2019, authorizing $1.8 billion in spending on the developmental disorder in the coming years. Read more ›
International Dyslexia Awareness Month was established by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) to raise awareness and educate others about dyslexia. Read more ›
Mental Health America (MHA) released new state rankings in its most recent report, 2020 State of Mental Health in America. Read more ›
More than 80 clergy of diverse faiths unify to issue a proclamation to stand against hatred and to stand beside those with mental illness. Read more ›
After the most recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, American Psychological Association President Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, issued a statement in which she asserted that guns, racism, bigotry and hatred are fueling a “public health crisis” in the United States.
Read more ›
Palo Alto, CA September 2, 2019 — Children’s Health Council (CHC) today announced the addition of Sterrin Bird, CFRE, as Chief Advancement Officer, beginning August 1. A nationally-recognized leader in the nonprofit community, Ms. Bird has more than 25 years of experience in service to philanthropy, with particular emphasis in capital campaigning and major gifts. Read more ›
CHC’s Patrice Crisostomo and Meghna Singh, representing CHC’s Teen Wellness Committee, appeared on the September 7 edition of KCBS Radio‘s In Depth radio show on the topic of raising awareness around mental health. Read more ›
Every year, mental health organizations raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention throughout the month of September. September 8 – 14, 2019, is National Suicide Prevention Week, a time to promote suicide prevention awareness, to share stories and resources, and to advocate for mental health care. Read more ›
