Light Up Green for Mental Health Month
Family Service Agency Advocates for Mental Wellness
May is the time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and help reduce the stigma so many experience. While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.
During May, Family Service Agency, Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center, and Guadalupe’s Little House By The Park join the national Mental Health Awareness Month movement. Community members can join the movement and increase their own understanding of mental illness with special events happening in May!
May 5 — Adults can take a Youth Mental Health First Aid course and learn how to be a “first responder” to a young person experiencing a medical health challenge. Visit BeTheDifferenceSB.org to sign up.
May 12 — Attend FSA’s presentation: The Youth Mental Health Crisis: Answering the Call with Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson, esteemed youth and child psychiatrist. This event takes place on May 12th, from 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club at Rockwood. As a public service, FSA will make a livestream version available to the public at no cost at 6:30 p.m. Visit fsacares.org/sarah-vinson to register.
May 20 — Wear green. Show your support for Mental Health Awareness Month by wearing your favorite green shirt, pants or other apparel on May 20. Share a photo with the hashtag #TogetherforMentalHealth to social media to let your network know that you are a mental health advocate.
May 21— Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches adults how to assist a young person experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis using specific steps. Visit BeTheDifferenceSB.org to sign up.
Family Service Agency
Donate now!www.fsacares.org
(805) 965.1001 x 1255
Director of Development: Paul Katan
Mission
Our mission is to strengthen and advocate for families and individuals of all ages and diversities, helping to create and preserve a healthy community.
Begin to Build a Relationship
We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s director of development and/or Executive Director.
FSA has always found a way to help those in need, expanding the depth of its programs when necessary. It is truly an asset to our community.
Help Serve More Families in Need, Faster
Family Service Agency has a long tradition of helping low-income people across Santa Barbara County receive the help they need in times of crisis. It’s a holistic approach that provides the wrap-around care each individual needs in order to become self-reliant, a mission that’s importance has become even more pronounced in the past few years.
But with inflation on the rise, FSA and the Santa Barbara County residents it serves need help.
“Where we are really lacking is having enough flexible funding for basic needs,” Lisa Brabo, FSA’s CEO says. “We’re doing our best to serve as many families as we can, but that’s where we really need help.”
Board of Directors
Molly Carrillo-Walker, Co-President
Tricia Price, Co-President
Rod Durham, Co-VP of Programs
Edward Tran, Co-VP of Programs
Maria McCall, VP of Development
Robert Janeway, Co-Treasurer
Linda Sessler, Co-Treasurer
Teressa Johnes, Secretary
BOARD MEMBERS
Mario Barfield, Psy.D.
Arianna Castellanos
Paul Cordeiro
Marni Cooney
Robin Doell Sawaske
Ed Galanski
Patty Herrera
Blanca Mejia, J.D.
Alexander Murkison
Paul Van Meel
Ryan Zick, J.D.
Terri Zuniga
HONORARY DIRECTOR
Shirley Ann