It's time for Bridge - Summer Bridge!

Despite the unseasonal weather...it’s Summer Bridge time again!

RAMS-Summer Bridge is back for another summer of giving youth an opportunity to dip their toes into the vast waters of psychology and explore the varied career options in the field of mental health.  For those of you unfamiliar with this relatively new program, it is an eight-week summer mentoring program for current and recently graduated San Francisco public high school students age 16-20 who are interested in psychology and want to explore career opportunities in the field.  This is the second summer that RAMS is offering the program and we are off to a good start!  We received over 50 applications for the 20-30 slots we had, and we currently have 19 participants who are well on their way to completing the program.  

The program participants meet 12 hours a week at our partner location, Horizons Unlimited in the Mission.  They are hearing presentations by guest speakers on topics ranging from identity, self-expression, mental health and stigma, LGBTQIQ issues among adolescents and their families, body image and self-esteem, and personal stories from professionals in the field of mental health.  The participants have also gone on various field trips:  a RAMS staff training on racism and mental health, a visit to SFDPH/CBHS, a tour of San Francisco State University and meetings with undergraduate and graduate faculty members, and an introduction to our very own RAMS Child, Youth and Families Outpatient Clinic to learn about psychotherapy and the youth-oriented services provided by the agency.  With so much learning taking place in such a short period of time, we are also providing space for participants to reflect on what they’re experiencing and opportunities to get to know themselves and each other in the process.  This is done through numerous ice breaker activities, experiential activities, and small group discussions.

It’s hard to believe that we are already midway through our program.  There is still a lot more to learn and experiences to be had...oh, and hopefully a lot of fun along the way too!  Stay tuned for another blog entry at the end of the program....

 

Ropes Course...Getting to Know (and Trust) Each Other!

It comes Full Circle!

Nurturing the Next Generation of Culturally Competent Clinicians

The RAMS Summer Bridge program presented a workshop at the Northern Region Cultural Competence and Mental Health Summit XVII titled, “Promoting Equity in Health Services:  The Power of Community Based Services.”  The presentation, which was held on June 27, 2011, was given by RAMS Summer Bridge Program Coordinator Yuka Hachiuma, MFT, and RAMS Deputy Chief & Director of Clinical Services Christina Shea, MFT, along with two program graduates.

The presentation introduced the audience to the overarching mission of the Summer Bridge program, which is to nurture the next generation of culturally sensitive, linguistically competent, clinicians.  Christina Shea spoke of how she experienced the lack of such clinicians in the workforce as an issue that could be addressed by providing a mentoring program that reaches out to youth from under-represented communities and introducing them to psychology and the various career opportunities in the helping professions.  Yuka Hachiuma explained how the program was designed and implemented in its pilot year, and described the curriculum and how it was made possible through numerous partnerships with other providers in the community.  The program is funded by the Mental Health Services Act. 

One program graduate shared his experience in the program, and how it changed perception of himself and encouraged him to apply to college instead of going into the military.  He shared that he will be starting at San Francisco State University in the fall and is planning to study nursing or psychology in hopes of becoming a pediatrician in the future.  Another program graduate shared her experience of the program, which allowed her to focus her interest in psychology to becoming a psychotherapist in the future.  She also spoke of her continued involvement with RAMS through joining the Youth Council and starting her own youth-led organization that builds on what she learned in Summer Bridge, called the Bridge Project.  

The presentation was enthusiastically received by the audience who asked numerous questions and expressed excitement for this novel approach to increasing cultural competence in the field of mental health. Several audience members were eager to find out how to implement similar programs in their communities, which bodes well for the future of our profession.  

Christina Shea speaking about the need for programs such as Summer Bridge

Yuka Hachiuma describes the Summer Bridge program

Fu Yau Project Summer Newsletter

Check out the latest Fu Yau Times, a semi-annual newsletter with great articles and tips on parenting and resources for the community. Check it out by clicking HERE.

About the Fu Yau Project:
The Fu Yau Project is one of the many Child, Youth & Family Services offered at RAMS. It is a collaboration of RAMS and Chinatown Child Development Center (CCDC) and is located at 720 Sacramento Street, in San Francisco's Chinatown district. This innovative program provides prevention and early intervention mental health services to the childcare community that cares for children, ages 0-5 years old. Services includes the following: On-Site Program and Child Observation; Clinical Consultation with childcare staff and families; On-Site Intervention with individual and groups of children; Parenting Classes and Support Groups; and In-Service Training for the childcare staff relating to child development and mental health related issues. The Fu Yau Project staff includes child psychiatrists, licensed and license-tracked clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists, all of whom reflect the unique language skills and cultural competence needed to provide services for the children, families, and teaching staff of the childcare programs.

Through the Fu Yau Project, RAMS currently provides services at more than 44 childcare centers, 12 family childcare providers, four family resource centers, and one after school site, which are located in over nine San Francisco neighborhoods.

Graduation Day - Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program

Today's guest post is from Christine Tam, Coordinator of the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program being offered by RAMS and San Francisco State University. Started in Fall 2010, the Certificate Program's goal is "to prepare consumers and/or family members with the basic skills & knowledge for entry-level employment in the behavioral health system of care and with academic/career planning that supports success in institutions of higher learning". 

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 The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is excited to announce the successful completion of the Spring 2011 Cohort!  Twelve graduates proudly marched to the music of Pomp and Circumstance on Thursday, May 26^th at the graduation ceremony held at the San Francisco State University Downtown Campus.  Over fifty guests, including friends and family of the graduates, guest instructors of the course, and members from the behavioral health community, attended the graduation ceremony to celebrate this momentous event.

The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program, a collaboration between RAMS, inc. and San Francisco State University’s Department of Counseling, offers a university level course that prepares individuals to enter into the field of community behavioral health as direct service providers. 

For twelve weeks, each graduate devoted eight hours each week to attend lectures on topics related to developing counseling skills in working with individuals with a mental health diagnoses and/or substance abuse issues.  In addition to the in-class lectures, students spent hours outside of the classroom to review lecture materials, complete reading assignments, and work on class projects.  Students’ understanding of the materials was rigorously tested throughout the course through quizzes, exams, written assignments, and in-class presentations.  The twelve graduates from this cohort committed a tremendous amount of hard work over these weeks, many of whom exceeded the expectations and demands of the course. 

Robert Williams, PhD, Department of Counseling Chair at SFSU, addresses the Graduates and their guests at the Graduation Ceremony.

At this time, our spring graduates are actively seeking employment and volunteer opportunities to utilize the knowledge and skills they have learned from the course.  In fact, one graduate has already been offered a full-time position as a Peer Counselor at an agency in the East Bay! 

Congratulations Spring 2011 Cohort!  We look forward to hearing more of your future successes and the many ways you will be contributing to the communities across the San Francisco Bay Area. 

The next cohort for the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program will begin in September of 2011.  Applications will be accepted starting July of 2011.  Please contact Program Coordinator, Christine Tam at (415) 668 – 5955 x386 or christinehtam@ramsinc.org for additional details.   

Trainings & Presentations in June 2011

CELEBRATING API CULTURES

WHEN: Thursday, June 16, 2011. 9:30am - 1:00pm
WHERE: Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, 1663 Mission Street, 7th Floor
WHAT: Together with Asian Pacific Islander Family Resource Network (APIFRN) and other API-focused service providers in the community, RAMS shall once again be co-leading a Cultural Competency training on June 16, 2011 titled "Celebrating API Cultures". The aim of the workshop is to increase awareness of and sensitivity to the complexity of how culture of origin and immigration interface with family's priorities and needs. Panelists will represent the Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Samoan, and Vietnamese cultures, and food selections from all ethnic groups will be served for lunch.

Click on the image above to enlarge the flyer.

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CULTURALLY COMPETENT CLINICIANS

WHEN: Monday June 27 - Tuesday June 28, 2011

WHERE: Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, 2050 Gateway Place San Jose, CA 95110

WHAT:  This will be a workshop by RAMS at the Northern Region Cultural Competency Summit - 'Promoting Equity in Health Services: The Power of Community Based Solutions'.  Learn about the pilot year of the RAMS Summer Bridge program, a summer mentorship program for under-represented San Francisco high school students designed to increase awareness of psychological well-being and foster interest in pursuing a career in the helping professions.  This will be presented by RAMS Summer Bridge Program Coordinator Yuka Hachiuma, LMFT, and RAMS Deputy Chief & Director of Clinical Services Christina Shea, LMFT.

Closing Night Event - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2011

Please join RAMS and other community organizations for the last Asian Pacific American Heritage Month event of 2011!  This inter-generational multi-ethnic event shall feature live performances, happy hour specials all night, announcements, and delicious ethnic food. All are welcome so please help us spread the love by inviting your friends to attend too!

RSVP: http://apahmclosingnight.eventbrite.com/

WHAT: APA Heritage Month Closing Night Celebration
WHEN:  Tuesday, May 31, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Carnelian By the Bay, 1 Ferry Plaza (behind the Ferry Building), San Francisco.  Close to Embarcadero MUNI/BART.  $5 valet parking.

Your co-hosts: 
Aaron Rora - Angela Pang - Caitlyn Chi - Chris Chang - Christine Hsu - Christine Padilla - Claire Chang - Cliff Yee - Edmond Hui - Frank Chui - Ho Chie Tsai - Irene Kao - James Feng - Jenny Yu - Kavoos Bassiri - Keesa Ocampo - Manufou 'Fou' Liaiga-Anoai - Mary Nicely - Myron Lee - Paul Yep - Plunket Phommachanh - Rich 'Juebop' Jue - Ron Lee - Samson Wong - Sandra Siharath - Shaun Tai - Sourichanh (Sirch) Chanthyasack - Stephanie Balon Wong - Steve Liu - Steven Lee - Susan Lee - Susie Willemsz-Geeroms - Tamiko Wong

Community co-sponsors:
3rd I Film Festival - Asian American 20s & 30s Meetup - Asian American Business Connection Meetup (AABC) - Asian Business League - San Francisco (ABL-SF) - American Legion Cathay Post No. 384 - Asian Peace Officers' Association (APOA) - AsianWeek Foundation (AWF) - Bay Area Asians Meetup - Burma Education Fund - Cherry Blossom Alumnae (CBA) - East of Main Street - Fa'atasi - Hyphen Magazine - Indonesian Day 2011 - Korean American Professional Society (KAPS) - Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) - Mission District Re-Entry Center for Youth (MDRCY) - Nakayoshi Young Professionals (NYP) - OCA-SF (Organization of Chinese Americans - SF) - ORIENTED.COM - Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition (PAAWBAC) - RAMA - Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc (RAMS, Inc) - SEACHAMPA (South East Asian Cultural Heritage & Musical Performing Arts) - SF Asian Professionals Meetup - SF Cantonese Enthusiasts Meetup - SF Samoa-Pacific Islander Community Partnership - Shelter Network - TaiwaneseAmerican.org - WHOmentors.com, Inc. - Young Filipino Professionals Association (YFPA)

Business supporters:
4fifteen clothing - Alido’s Restaurant (donating lumpia!) - Bok Choy Apparel (selling items!) - Blue Salud Special Events (helping with logistics!) - Burmese Kitchen (donating cold Burmese Salad called Nan gyi thoke) - Fight Life - New Delhi Restaurant (donating mini-samosas!) - Sugar Bowl Bakery (donating brownie bites!) - Usagi Team (selling doggie clothes, wine accessories, and hand-made bags!)

Performers:
Charles Wang (cellist) - Cynthia Lin and the Blue Moon All Stars - Kariktan Dance Company - Michelle Martinez - Traditional Burmese Dancer Using Oil Lamps - Visitacion Valley Ukulele Club

Volunteers:
Angela Tang - Jackie Hwang - Karah To - Q Thang Do - Scott Kong - Sherry Wong - Susan Wong - Vicki Hsu

Poster by Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute

House Leader Nancy Pelosi meets with API Budget Coalitions

Press Release from Chinatown Community Development Center

SAN FRANCISCO (May 27, 2011) – Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi and over 40 community-based leaders from the Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) Budget Coalitions (which includes RAMS) met to discuss federal budget priorities for API low-income families, youth and seniors. Representatives from the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Laotian and Samoan American communities from across San Francisco attended. Leader Pelosi declared her strong support for the three federal budget priorities articulated by the group: the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG), Social Security Supplemental Income program (SSI), and Medicare.

Following a presentation by Patsy Tito, Executive Director of the Samoan Community Development Center, on the importance of CDBG funding to API communities, Rep. Pelosi acknowledged that the CDBG program must be protected because it forms the underyling foundation for critical local programs.  This is particularly true in San Francisco. CDBG funds nearly every API serving non-profit in the city of San Francisco. These services range from affordable housing to senior, youth, and family support programs.

Leader Pelosi also supported the priority to defend SSI from Republican attempts to raid and deplete the program. Anni Chung, Executive Director of Self-Help for the Elderly, presented on behalf of the community groups, and pointed out that for many API seniors, over 90% of their income comes from SSI.

Leader Pelosi finally urged API community leaders to oppose the current Republican attempt to privatize portions of Medicare after Kent Woo, Executive Director of the NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, presented.
 

About the Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) Budget Coalitions
The Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) Budget Coalitions is a San Francisco based “coalition of coalitions” formed to coordinate and advocate on government budget policy issues on behalf of vulnerable Asian and Pacific Islander communities. We consist of seven different citywide and neighborhood based Asian and Pacific Islander coalitions focusing on a broad range of issues impacting API’s. Our coalitions and their individual members provide social services and programming on a citywide basis to nearly every vulnerable API community in the City. Collectively, our coalitions include nearly 80 non-overlapping, individual organizations, institutions, and/or agencies.