May 10th RAMS Asian American & Pacific Islander Youth & Mental Health Conference

RSVP: https://ramsinc.ticketspice.com/rams-apa-mental-health-day

Course Description:

In honor of Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day and May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, RAMS (Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc.) is proudly partnering with Stanford School of Medicine (Psychiatry), UCSF, Palo Alto University, and SAMHSA to hold a conference focusing on API youth, mental health, leadership, stigma reduction & suicide prevention.

This multi-institutional and multi-county conference across San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, will highlight youth leadership projects, parental support initiatives, clinical practices, and county initiatives and programs.

Keynote speakers and presentations include:

Francis G. Lu, M.D.
Luke and Grace Kim Endowed Professor in Cultural Psychiatry
Director of Cultural Psychiatry
University of California, Davis

Joyce P. Chu, Ph.D.
Professor, Palo Alto University

Wei-Chin Hwang, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Claremont McKenna College
Clinical Psychologist & Consultant

Helen Hsu, Psy.D.
President. Asian American Psychological Association
Staff Psychologist, Stanford University

and SAMHSA Fellows.

The conference will connect people working on Asian American and Pacific Islander mental health issues, with a focus on youth, across the Bay including providers, youth leaders, service organizations including counties, community-based organizations, and universities, and promote mental health awareness among the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

You are invited to the 12th Annual Evelyn Lee Diversity & Cultural Competency Training!

Title: Asian Americans and Microaggressions: Clinical Implications
Presenter: Kevin Nadal, Ph.D.
Date/Time: Friday, October 12 (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Location: State Building, 455 Golden Gate, SF, 94102 (Milton Marks Auditorium)
Continuing Education: 3 units available for Psychologists, LCSW, LMFT, LPCC

Please fill out this Google Form to RSVP.

We highly recommend that you arrive early to allow time for the security check-in.

(Click flyer images to view larger)

 

 

 

If you have any questions about this training, please feel free to contact Connie Chuang at conniechuang@ramsinc.org or (415) 800-0699.

 

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the RAMS/SFSU Fall 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week intensive program that offers training and education for individuals, and family members of individuals, that have accessed behavioral health services & who are interested in (or are currently) providing peer counseling, advocacy and support services in the behavioral health field in San Francisco. Having already successfully completed 16 cohort cycles, the Entry Course has graduated over 230 participants, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED,
• Are interested in helping people in a behavioral health setting, and
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10AM-2PM).
• The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program is funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63) funds. As such, the course is designed for individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services.

Application and Course Timeline:

• Monday, July 16th: Application Release
• Wednesday, July 25th & Tuesday, July 31st: Informational Program Open Houses @ 835 Market
• Friday, August 3rd: Optional Application Help Workshop @ Peer Wellness Center, 1282 Market
• Tuesday, August 21st @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline
• Week of September 3rd: Notification of Application Status
• Tuesday, September 18th, 2018: First Day of Instruction

Please feel free to contact Program Manager, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2018 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course

RAMS is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is NOW accepting applications for its 8-week Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course Summer 2018 Cohort, with classes set to begin on Tuesday, June 19th, 2018!

Funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) funds, the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program (part of the Division of Peer-Based Services at RAMS) offers training and education opportunities for individuals and family members of individuals that have accessed behavioral health services, who are providing--or are interested in providing--peer counseling, advocacy and support services in the community behavioral health field in San Francisco.

In addition to the flagship Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course that has been offered in partnership with San Francisco State University Department of Counseling since 2010, RAMS has designed its Advanced Course to empower and educate individuals who are currently providing counseling, support services and/or advocacy in the community--or possess relevant training, volunteer and/or educational experience--who would like to obtain specialized training and professional development opportunities in a collaborative learning environment.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED
• Are able to attend 8 weeks of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (3PM-6PM) from June 19th - August 9th, 2018 @ SFSU Downtown Campus, 835 Market St
• This program is funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) funds. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members of individuals) that have experience with and/or have accessed behavioral health services.
• Individuals with current or past work experience, education, and/or training (including volunteer and advocacy work) in peer counseling and the behavioral health services field are highly encouraged to apply!

Application and Course Timeline:

Monday, April 23rd, 2018: Application Release
Friday, May 4th @ 10AM-12PM: Informational Program Open House
Tuesday, May 29th @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline
Wednesday, June 6th: Notification of Application Status
Tuesday, June 19th, 2018: First Day of Instruction

Attached are the RAMS Summer 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course Brochure, Application Form, and Informational Open House Flyer.

Please feel free to contact Program Manager, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102, or via email at kristinsnell@ramsinc.org should you have any questions or would like any additional information. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

 We look forward to receiving applications for the Summer 2018 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Fu Yau Project Staff Attend "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" at the SNH Golden Gate Theater

RAMS Fu Yau Project Staff recently attended "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" at the SNH Golden Gate Theater. It was an excellent training opportunity, since the play focuses on a central character who struggles with autism, as well as a nice team-building outing. After the play, the Fu Yau team had a chance to participate in a Q and A session with the actors.

 

 

 

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the RAMS/SFSU Fall 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

 

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week intensive program that offers training and education for individuals and family members of individuals that have accessed behavioral health services, who are interested in (or are currently) providing peer counseling, advocacy and support services in the behavioral health field in San Francisco. Having already successfully completed 14 cohort cycles, the Entry Course has graduated 190 participants, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

 

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED,
• Are interested in helping people in a behavioral health setting, and
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10AM-2PM).
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services. 

 

Application and Course Timeline:

• Thursday, July 6, 2017 - Application Release 
• Wednesday, July 19th & Tuesday, July 25th- Optional Informational Open Houses 
• Thursday, July 27th, 10AM-2PM – Optional Application Help Workshop
• Wednesday, August 16th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline
• Week of August 28th - Notification of Application Status
• Tuesday, September 12th – First Day of Class

 

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

 

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2017 class, and beginning another great cohort!

RAMS Division of Peer-Based Services PEER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM -- Now Accepting Applications for the 2017-2018 Cohort!

RAMS Division of Peer-Based Services is very excited to announce the Peer Internship Cohort 2017-2018. The Peer Internship Program is designed for individuals with lived experience who are consumers of behavioral health services, former consumers, family members of a consumer, and/or peer providers working for a community agency providing behavioral health services.

The Internship Program offers collaborative learning in a peer-supported environment, in which Peer Interns work with other Peer Practitioners throughout the 9-month program. Peer Interns will attend formal trainings each month provided by RAMS for additional professional development. The Internship Program also provides weekly group supervision from a Peer Supervisor, as well as ongoing individual supervision from a site supervisor.

 

We are looking for individuals who:

 

In order to qualify for this internship, please note that you must meet the following requirements:

• At least 18 years of age,
• Resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED,
• Be able to work 20 hours/week in a behavioral health care setting, AND
• Commit to the nine months of the internship
   

This program is funded by MHSA and other sources through San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services. As such, the Internship Program’s mission is to provide opportunities for individuals with lived experience with Community Behavioral Health System of Care, and/or their family members.

 

Application and Course Timeline:

• Wednesday, June 7th: Application Release
• Friday, July 14th @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline
• Week of August 14th: Notification of Application Status
• Wednesday, August 23rd: Registration Forms Due
• Tuesday, September 5th: Internship Start Date

Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peerbased.php. Please feel free to contact us at peerinternship@ramsinc.org should you have any questions or would like any additional information.

The i-Ability Vocational IT Training Program is now accepting applications for Desktop and Help Desk!

RAMS is excited to announce that the i-Ability Vocational IT Training Program is currently seeking applicants for the upcoming cohorts for two tracks: (1) Help Desk and (2) Desktop. The i‐Ability Vocational IT Training Program is offered by Hire‐Ability Vocational Services, a division of Richmond Area Multi‐Services, Inc. (RAMS) with funding from the Mental Health Services Act. Participants in these 9‐month program tracks will receive intensive and supportive on‐the‐job training in the fields of information technology, technical support and customer service.

Please visit www.hire-ability.org, to access videos that provide information about how to prepare for the application process and the program itself, and to access the application, which is also available here: VIEW APPLICATION.

In order to qualify for this program, please note that interested applicants must be able to provide documentation showing that they meet the following requirements: 

1. At least 18 years of age 
2. Current resident of San Francisco 
3. Must be currently receiving services through SFDPH Behavioral Health Services (BHS) 
4. Have successfully completed at least a High School education or equivalent (GED acceptable) 
5. Be able to attend training which is held Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., 7‐12 hours per week 
6. Successful completion of in‐person interview and skills assessment 
7. Must actively participate in developing vocational goals with program staff 
8. Must provide consent for i‐Ability staff to reach out to clinical provider 

The program is accepting about 10 trainees for the Help Desk track and 8 trainees for the Desktop track. Interested applicants can attend information sessions that will be held at the 1st floor Avatar Training Room of 1380 Howard St. on the following dates and times:

• Thursday, May 11, 2017 @ 10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday , May 17, 2017 @ 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 18, 2017 @ 1:00 p.m. -2:30 p.m.
• Monday, May 22, 2017 @ 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Application Due Date: 

June 2, 2017 (must be received by manager no later than 5:00 p.m.)

Interviews Conducted: 

Ongoing until June 30, 2017

Notification of Application Status: 

All applicants will be notified no later than July 21, 2017

First Day of Instruction: 

July 31, 2017 (Help Desk) & August 14, 2017 (Desktop)

For more information, feel free to contact:

John Cabiles, Vocational IT Services Manager at (415) 255‐3563 or iAbility@hire‐ability.org

Nancy Gobaleza, Intake Coordinator at 415-282-9675 ext. 207 or nancygobaleza@hire-ability.org 

APIMHC offering FREE Mental Health First Aid Training - April 17 & 18, 2017

The Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative (APIMHC) is pleased to offer a two-day Mental Health First Aid Training facilitated by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Trainer Joyce Diloy. The two-day training will be held in the Auditorium at the Samoan Community Development Center - 2055 Sunnydale Avenue, San Francisco. The training starts promptly at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. each day.

Who to attend:

• APIMHC Community Partners and staff
• FMHI-SF workgroup members
• SEAMHI workgroup members
• SWI workgroup members
• Interested Community members

Space is LIMITED.

 RSVP by Thursday, April 13, 2017 to Anila Pillai at anilapillai@ramsinc.org

Refreshments/snacks will be provided. Please bring a notepad and pen for note-taking.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:

Natalie T. Ah Soon, MPH

Project Coordinator
Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative
(415) 668-5998 ext. 22
natalieahsoon@ramsinc.org

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. Having already successfully completed 13 cohort cycles, this course has had over 175 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco, 
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and 
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.). 
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services.

Application and Course Timeline:

• Thursday, January 12th - Application Release 
• Wednesday, January 25th & Tuesday, January 31st - Optional Informational Open Houses (see Flyer Here for details)
• Wednesday, February 1st, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Optional Application Help Workshop
• Tuesday, February 21st @ 5:00 p.m. - Application Deadline 
• Week of March 1st - Notification of Application Status 
• Tuesday, March 22nd – First Day of Class 
• Thursday, June 8th - Graduation Ceremony

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Spring 2017 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. Having already successfully completed 12 cohort cycles, this course has had over 160 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10am-2pm).
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services.  As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services.

Application and Course Timeline:

•          Wednesday, July 6th - Application Release 
•          Tuesday, July 19th & Thursday, July 21^st, 10am-12pm -                                                     Optional Informational Open Houses (see Flyer Here for details)
•          Wednesday, August 10th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline 
•          Week of August 22nd - Notification of Application Status 
•          Tuesday, September 6th - Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants 
•          Tuesday, September 13th – First Day of Class 
•          Thursday, December 8th - Graduation Ceremony 

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2016 class, and beginning another great cohort!

To view the flyers below, right-click and select any option to "Open".

May 10 - APA Mental Health Day: Frames of Mind Exhibit

In honor of Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day and May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS) is proudly partnering with Kearny Street Workshop to hold a photography exhibit titled “Frames of Mind”. This exhibit features the work of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who participated in a 7-class workshop series, telling stories about mental health through photography.

Here are the Frames of Mind exhibit details:
      Frames of Mind exhibit: May 10-13, 2016 (please check the Center’s website for gallery hours)
      FREE Public Reception: May 10, 2016 (4:00pm to 7:00pm)
      International Hotel Manilatown Center
      868 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

About Mental Health Conditions:

• About one in five Americans in a given year are impacted by mental health conditions regardless of gender, age, race, religion and socioeconomic status. (NIMH) 
• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders appear to have extremely low utilization of mental health services relative to other U.S. populations. (NAMI) This may be due to the substantial stigma that exists and cultural & linguistic isolation of the community, family and individual.
• The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States. Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide. (NAMI)
•  Treatments for mental health conditions today are highly effective and individuals who receive treatment have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life.

Many factors contribute to mental health concerns such as biological, life experiences (e.g. trauma, immigration, housing instability), and family history of mental health conditions. When someone starts to experience the early warning signs of mental illness, knowing the risks factors and symptoms will help. Often times, family and friends are the first to support a person through these early stages. Asking for help is never a sign of weakness and wellness & recovery is always possible.

The press release is below (right-click and select any option to "Open").

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate ADVANCED COURSE -- Now Accepting Applications for the Summer 2016 Cohort!

RAMS is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is now accepting applications for its 8-week Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course, with classes set to begin on Tuesday, June 14th, 2016!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program (part of the Division of Peer-Based Services at RAMS) provides training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. In addition to the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Level Course that is currently offered, RAMS has designed its Advanced Course to support and educate individuals who are providing, or have recently provided peer-based services to clients in the community (or possess relevant training, volunteer and/or educational experience), and would like to obtain more specialized peer counseling training and professional development opportunities.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and
• Are able to attend 8 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (3PM-6PM).
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with receiving behavioral health services.
• Individuals with current or past work experience, education, and/or training (including volunteer and advocacy work) in the peer counseling field are highly encouraged to apply

Application and Course Timeline:

• Friday, April 22nd: Application Release
• Tuesday, May 3rd & Friday, May 6th: Optional Informational Open Houses
• Wednesday, May 25th @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline
• Week of June 1st, 2016: Notification of Application Status
• Tuesday, June 14th, 2016: First Day of Class
• Thursday, August 4th, 2016: Last Day of Class & Graduation

Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php. Please feel free to contact Program Coordinator, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102, or via email at kristinsnell@ramsinc.org should you have any questions or would like any additional information.

RAMS is honored to receive the 2015 Grant from The Sophia Mirviss Memorial Fund

This summer, the Child, Youth, and Family Program at RAMS, Inc. was awarded a grant from the Sophia Mirviss Fund. The Fund was established in 1957 to honor Sophia Mirviss, M.D., a child analyst and pioneer in bringing psychoanalytic thought and practice to everyone who worked with children. She was particularly dedicated to reaching out to those who worked with children from economically disadvantaged communities.

Our grant proposal was to explore how to bring psychoanalytic ideas to work with children in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). RAMS clinicians are involved in the SOAR (Success, Opportunity, Achievement, Resiliency) Academy program, a classroom for students with severe emotional needs. Additional support, including on-site mental health services, and resources are provided with the goal of helping these students be able to return to a regular classroom. There are myriad challenges to a traditional therapeutic model in this setting. Students often have mixed feelings about being in the program in general, much less in therapy. Teachers tend to prioritize education. The schools themselves are not set up to promote a confidential, self-enclosed space to explore internal worlds.

We applied for the grant in order to provide a space for our clinicians to grapple with the challenges to the model, and to consider what psychoanalysis can contribute to clinical work in a school.

Once we were awarded the grant, the first task was to find a consultant who would be a good fit for the project we had proposed.  We were fortunate to find Audrey Dunn, LCSW, a proverbial needle in a haystack.  She has both provided mental health services in various collaborations with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) for decades (in an adolescent day treatment program, on-site at middle school, etc.) and is actively involved in the psychoanalytic community.

We began the program in September, two monthly meetings held throughout the school year (Sept 2015- June 2016):  a reading group facilitated by the project coordinator and a consultation group.  Dr. Loong Kwok, a supervising psychologist who is part of the CYF team at RAMS, assigns readings in advance of his group (with input from Ms. Dunn based on what comes up in the consultation group) and discusses the readings with the clinicians.  Ms. Dunn provides a space for the clinicians to apply the readings to their experiences of running groups in the SOAR Academy classrooms and have clinical discussions with their colleagues.

Clinicians participating in the training series have observed that they are incorporating the ideas they’ve been reading when running the groups.  In addition to attending to behaviors, they  have also been paying attention to how the individuals interact with each other in the therapy group, and how the group itself fits into the school.  We have come up with some answers to specific questions about how to incorporate psychoanalytic approaches to our school-based groups. We are still working on joining these together into a cohesive plan. In the coming months, we will be considering the specific contributions of ethnicity and trauma in this work. By this summer, we believe that we can create a list of questions that need to be answered as we continue group therapy within the school system, and a list of preliminary answers.

Photo credit - Noel Z Gondek on Flickr

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. Having already successfully completed 11 cohort cycles, this course has had 150 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:
• are at least 18 years old residents of San Francisco
• have completed at least a high school level education or GED
• are current or past consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members of consumers
• are interested in helping others in the community behavioral health setting

Application and course timeline is as follows:
• Thursday, January 14th - Application Release (click HERE for the application)
• Wednesday, January 27th & Monday, February 1st 10am-12pm - Optional Informational Open Houses (see FLYER HERE for details)
• Friday, February 19th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline 
• Week of March 1st - Notification of Application Status
• Friday, March 11th - Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants
• Tuesday, March 22nd – First Day of Class
• Thursday, June 9th - Graduation Ceremony

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Spring 2016 class, and beginning another great cohort!

To view the flyers below, right-click and select any option to "Open".

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate ADVANCED COURSE -- Now Accepting Applications for the Winter 2015-2016 Cohort

RAMS is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is now accepting applications for its NEW 8-week Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course, with classes set to begin on Tuesday, January 26th, 2016!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program (part of the Division of Peer-Based Services at RAMS) provides training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. In addition to the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Level Course that is currently offered, RAMS has designed its Advanced Course to support and educate individuals who are providing, or have recently provided peer-based services to clients in the community (or possess relevant training, volunteer and/or educational experience), and would like to obtain more specialized peer counseling training and professional development opportunities.

We are looking for individuals who: 

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco, 
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and 
• Are able to attend 8 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (3PM-6PM). 
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals with personal experience with the Community Behavioral Health System of Care and family members. 
• Individuals with current or past work experience, education, and/or training (including volunteer and advocacy work) in the peer counseling field are highly encouraged to apply 

 Application and Course Timeline: 

• Friday, November 13th: Application Release 
• Thursday, November 19th & Tuesday, December 1st: Optional Program Open Houses 
• Wednesday, December 16th @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline 
• Week of January 4th, 2016: Notification of Application Status 
• Friday, January 15th, 2016: Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants 
• Tuesday, January 26th, 2016: First Day of Class 
• Thursday, March 17th, 2016: Last Day of Class & Graduation 

Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

Please feel free to contact Program Coordinator, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102, or via email at kristinsnell@ramsinc.org should you have any questions or would like any additional information.

Community Voices: Stories From The Frontline

All RAMS staff, interns, and trainees are invited to this presentation & discussion at the 10th Annual Evelyn Lee Diversity and Cultural Competency Training:

Community Voices: Stories from the Frontline 

Friday, November 13th, 9am – 12pm 

State Building, Milton Marks Auditorium, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco

This presentation will describe grassroots efforts for community and capacity building, strategies for advocacy and community empowerment, and engagement with leaders and legislative groups.

PRESENTERS:  Gordon Chin, MSW, and Robert L. Okin, MD

Robert Okin, MD was chief of service at SFGH Department of Psychiatry; professor of clinical psychiatry at UCSF; and vice chair of the UCSF, School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, where he oversaw the development of crucial services for San Francisco’s most acute & chronic patients with mental health conditions, including the SFGH Department of Psychiatry’s culturally focused inpatient units and Emergency Department Case Management Program (which received the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems’ Safety Net Award in 1999). He has been quoted numerous times in the New York Times, was featured on ABC’s 20/20, and in 2009, he received the American Psychiatric Association’s prestigious Human Rights Award.

Gordon Chin, MSW is the founding Executive Director of San Francisco’s Chinatown Community Development Center, serving in this position until his retirement in October 2011. He has been active in San Francisco’s Chinatown community for over four decades, and has served on many community and civic boards including the national boards of the Center for Community Change, the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, and the SF Public Utilities Commission. Mr. Chin was selected as one of six inaugural fellows for the Fannie Mae Foundation’s James A. Johnson Community Fellows Award, and was one of the community development leaders honored at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s Silver Anniversary with a Mike Sviridoff Leadership Award.

*******************
If you have any questions about this training, please feel free to contact Angela Tang at angelatang@ramsinc.org or (415) 800-0699.

To view the flyer below, right-click and select any option to "Open".

Hire-Ability: A Light Of The Village

The Mental Health Services Act - San Francisco held its 5th Annual Award Ceremony at the Scottish Rite Masonic Auditorium on October 15, 2015. It was a thoughtfully coordinated event that included stories and poetry from those mental health consumers with lived experience, as well as delightful musical entertainment from pianist, Mr. Walter Earl, and beatbox vocalist, Mr. Carlos Aguirre. With the tagline “It Takes a Village to Recover,” the event celebrated the recovery of over 100 consumers, each of whom received an Achievement in Recovery Award.

It was a big year for RAMS Hire-Ability Vocational Services, which saw its i-Ability Vocational IT Training program receive two distinctions. A graduate of i-Ability, was honored with the MHSA Consumer of the Year Award. His inspiring speech echoed the award ceremony’s sentiment, as he thanked those who were key to his recovery, including RAMS, AA, and his community behavioral health providers.

The i-Ability Vocational IT Training program also received the MHSA Team of the Year Award. The program’s entire staff was welcomed onstage to accept this award, including IT trainers, counselors, peer staff members, and management. RAMS i-Ability provides on-the-job vocational IT training to consumers through its partnership with SF Dept. of Public Health - Behavioral Health Services (BHS), where i-Ability serves as a critical component of the IT operations at BHS.

The i-Ability program will begin recruiting in January 2016 
for IT training cohorts that will begin in April 2016.  

For more information, please contact Nancy Gobaleza, Intake Coordinator
at 415-282-9675 Ext. 207 or nancygobaleza@hire-ability.org

Introducing: The RAMS Peer Internship Program

RAMS Division of Peer-Based Services is very excited to announce the inaugural Peer Internship 2015-2016. The Peer Internship Program is with the “Division of Peer- Based Services” for individuals with lived experience who are a consumer of behavioral health services, a former consumer, a family member of a consumer, and/or currently a peer provider working for a community agency providing behavioral health services.

The Internship Program offers a collaborative learning – peer supported environment, in which Peer Interns work with other Peer Practitioners throughout the 9-month program. Peer Interns will receive weekly supervision and also attend at least two formal trainings per month provided by RAMS for additional professional development. The Internship Program also provides weekly group supervision from a Peer Supervisor, as well as ongoing individual supervision from a site supervisor.

The Peer Internship Program is a 9-month, 20 hours/week, paid ($12.25/hour) under RAMS “Division of Peer-Based Services”.

Please check it out and share with those interested in your network. For questions, please feel free to contact us at 415-579-3021 (ask for Miguel Leyva at Ext. 107) or email us at peerinternship@ramsinc.org.

• APPLICATION DUE DATE: October 2, 2015 by 5:00pm 
• Notification of Application Status: Week of October 19th 
• Registration Forms Due Date: October 28, 2015 
• Internship Start Date: November 2, 2015 

Click HERE to download the application.

Thank you for your interest in the Peer Internship Program!

To view the flyer below, right-click and select any option to "Open".  Click HERE to download the flyer. 

 

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2015 Class

RAMS, in collaboration with SFSU, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2015 Class!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health.  Having already successfully completed 10 cohort cycles, this program has had over 130 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course.  This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:
•    are at least 18 years old residents of San Francisco
•    have completed at least a high school level education or GED
•    are current or past consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members of consumers
•    are interested in helping others in the community behavioral health setting

Application and course timeline is as follows:
•    Monday, July 6th - Application Release
•    Tuesday, July 21st & Thursday, July 23rd - Optional Program Open Houses (see Flyer HERE for details)
•    Friday, August 7th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline
•    Week of August 24th - Notification of Application Status
•    Friday, September 4th - Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants
•    Tuesday, September 15th - 1st Day of Class
•    Thursday, December 17th - Graduation Ceremony

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2015 class, and beginning another great cohort!