Free Online Workshop: Mental Health for Our Children and Youth – Advice for Families

By Alicia Wilson

The African American Family Outreach Project (AAFOP) will host a free online workshop on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, from 9:45 am to 2 pm.

This event will focus on the needs of children and youth (16-24). Serious mental illness often manifests between ages 1624. Early and appropriate care can favorably affect the course of illness and disorders and thus allow children and youth to avoid the severe consequences of loss of reality or self-medication with street drugs.

This workshop will assist family members in identifying the signs and symptoms of mental illness versus typical teen angst and provide information on services available for our children and youth.

Registration is available online at https://bit.ly/AAFOPFEBRUARY2023 or via phone at (510) 697-8533.

M.Ed., MA. Ms. Carisle serves as the Director of the Child and Young Adult System of Care (CYASOC) for Alameda County Behavioral Health. In this role, Ms. Carlisle provides leadership for six subdivisions under the CYASOC umbrella providing mental health services for the birth to 24 years of age population. Having served in the educational system and in a mental health setting, she brings a depth of experience in the needs of children and youth with learning disabilities or emotional struggles.

Workshop participants will also hear from the unique perspective of Tanya McCullom, who is both a family member and Program Specialist with ACBH’s Office of Family Empowerment.

Lisa

Ms. Carisle, Director of the Child and Young Adult System of Care (CYASOC) for Alameda County Behavioral Health

Our morning featured speaker is board certified, Columbia University trained psychiatrist, Dr. Angela Coombs. Dr. Coombs is currently working as the new Associate Medical Director at Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) working in the office of the medical director and seeing clients at Oakland Community Support Center.

In the afternoon, we will hear from Lisa Carisle,

AAFOP presents a series of five workshops annually and runs monthly support group meetings for family caregivers. The workshops and support group are designed to arm caregivers with an understanding of the complexities of mental illness and aid caregivers in navigating the care system and advocating on behalf of their loved one.

The AAFOP is a program of the Mental Health Association of Alameda County and is funded through the Mental Health Services Act of Alameda County Behavioral Health and endorsed by the African American Steering Committee for Health and Wellness.