A Right to Heal: Mental Health in Diverse Communities a Listening Session with the Youth and Young Adult Community of Stockton

In 2020, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) contracted CPEHN (California Pan-Ethnic Health Network) for 3 years to engage and uplift diverse voices to influence what local programs and services are funded in their communities. Year 1 and Year 2 accomplishments can be found here.

At the local level, Be Smooth, Inc. collaborated with CPEHN and its statewide partner the California Black Health Network (CBHN) to facilitate a Community Circle with 37 youth and young adult BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) participants from the Stockton area. Ages ranged from 9 to 25 years, with a concentration among those ages 13 and 14. Nearly 1/3 had experienced housing instability. Of those attending K-12 schools, over 3/4 receive free or reduced lunch.