April 21, 2021
Volume 3 • Issue 7
Momentum and Bay Area Community Health at our 2001 The Alameda facility By: Alexandra Shwarzstein, CFRE
Clients Lining up for their Vaccines
This has been a challenging year for Bay Area residents, and the stresses presented by the pandemic have resulted in more community members seeking help for behavioral health issues. People with substance abuse and mental health
issues have also had to endure social isolation, uncertain employment, and changes to their regular routine which usually provide the stability necessary for personal wellbeing. The task of meeting the needs of such a
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vulnerable population has been met by agencies like Momentum for Health, whose mission is to provide behavioral health services to the community. Despite the 115,000 COVID cases in Santa Clara County, Momentum
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has worked hard to continue to provide essential behavioral health services, offering both inpatient and outpatient care, virtually when necessary and in person whenever possible. Since last March, more people are using Momentum’s services than ever before. The number of people dialing into the county’s call center has reached new heights. At the same time, safety has been an absolute priority and a challenge, as it has been for most of us during the pandemic. Fortunately, the community stepped in to help, donating masks and PPE in the early days and continuing to show support through vital donations necessary for acquiring equipment to safeguard the health of staff and clients. Momentum recognizes these contributions and
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was proud to award Dr. Sara Cody, the Health Officer and Director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, the Shining Stars Award of Excellence last October for her leadership in guiding our region through the pandemic.. Momentum for Health’s commitment to their mission was reflected in honors from the National Association of Mental Illness – Santa Clara County chapter. David Mineta, President and CEO, received the NAMI-Santa Clara 2020 Community Award for his service before and during this crisis. One of the beneficiaries of Momentum’s services is Alan, who came to them in 2015 after going in and out of different treatment programs for drug addiction. He began using substances when he was fifteen and first displayed symptoms of mental illness when he was twenty. [Continued on Page 06]