Welcome to the CASRA Newsletter

In this issue:

- An article by Dr. Mark Ragins on understanding burnout and protecting ourselves

-A Park Ranger's extraordinary ways of connecting with those who are unhoused in San Francisco's Parks

-New therapies that focus on positive experiences to benefit those who live with depression and anxiety

-A new Sacramento Sheriff policy that will impact how others respond to emergency mental health calls

-A webinar series for clairity, understanding and information regarding Payment Reform in California

Enjoy!

If you have news you would like to share or a colleague you would like to spotlight because of the great work they do or just because they are a great person or both, let us know by contacting joe@casra.org.

CASRA is a statewide organization of private, not-for-profit, public benefit corporations that serve clients of the California public mental health system.

Member agencies provide a variety of services that are designed to enhance the quality of life and community participation of youth, adults and older adults living with challenging mental health issues. Read more

Our member agencies are continually looking for new employees or volunteers to join their workforce.

To see current openings and find out additional information about CASRA Member Agencies, please click below.

A benefit of membership in CASRA is receiving four hours of training for your staff. For more information, please contact joe@casra.org

If you are a CASRA member agency and would like to advertise your learning opportunity, training or event for the benefit of other CASRA member agencies, please contact us at events@casra.org.
There are a few guidelines:
-You are a CASRA Member Agency
-Your event is free of charge
and, as a reminder the Newsletter is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month

CASRA facilitates a number of support groups for people working at CASRA member agencies. The support groups provide people working in similar roles opportunities to share experiences, information, and challenges. They meet monthly for approximantely one hour. for more information contact the person listed for each group.

Social Rehabilitation Facilities (SRF)
Meets: First Tuesday of the month at 1 PM

Human Resources
Meets: First Thursday of the month at 11 AM

EmploymentVocational Rehabilitation Services
Meets: First Thursday of the month at 3 PM

For information regarding any of the above groups contact:
Chad Costello, chad@casra.org

Wellness Services (Well Talk)
The Wellness Services support group is now online. For more info contact Joe Ruiz, joe@casra.org

The California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies

Mailing Address:
3350 E. 7th Street, #509
Long Beach, CA 90804

Email: casra@casra.org

Phone: (562) 343-2621

To reach us: use our Contact Form

Understanding Burnout and Protecting Ourselves

By Mark Ragins, MD, Revised September 26, 2023

A couple years ago I was part of a daylong Transitional Aged Youth services workshop. Towards the end of the day we began talking about how we handle hearing all the traumatic stories our young clients share with us and how we take care of ourselves. One woman in the back of the audience raised her hand and said that professional athletes expect amazing things of themselves physically at work, far beyond any of us. They have warm-ups, training regimens, off season, time outs, work outs, substitutes, trainers and an array of coaches on the bench with them to help them, and even still many of them get physically injured. Mental Health workers expect amazing things of ourselves emotionally at work, but we have almost none of those supports. In effect, we come to work out of shape and are careless about how it’s affecting us and then we’re surprised when we’re emotionally burned out.

This article attempts to briefly describe six common causes of burnout in public mental health work and some things we can do to build our own resilience and protect ourselves. It also discusses how many of the standard protective practices probably do more harm than good. Read More

Her Job Is To Remove Homeless People From Sf’s Parks. Her Methods Are Extraordinary

From sfstandard.com
By Susan Freinkel, February 8, 2025

Kaine moved into Golden Gate Park sometime in the late 1990s. He’s vague on the date or details that led to him living outside. But he remembers exactly what he brought with him: “a big-ass backpack,” two sleeping bags, and a 12-person Coleman tent that was so hard to set up he got thoroughly drenched his first night.

Kaine, whose real name is Kevin Horton, settled into the woods surrounding Hellman Hollow. For more than 20 years, no one could figure out how to help him get a real roof over his head. Kaine became a fixture of the park, known by locals for carrying a staff he’d carved from fallen trees, accompanied by his yellow Lab, Honey. He knew all the park’s hidden trails, the best places to pick blackberries “as big as my pinkie finger,” and the hive in an old cypress where he could collect honey to mix with his vodka. People would tell him, “Damn, Kaine, you know more about that park than the park rangers do,” he recalls. Read More

New Psychotherapies That Focus on Positive Experiences Could Better Treat Depression and Anxiety

From scientificamerican.com
By Francine Russo, February 18, 2025

Katie, a 40-year-old woman in the county of Devon in England, has battled depression most of her life. She’s received lots of treatment, including with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The latter approach did help, she says. “I am prone to catastrophizing, and CBT helped me reduce those fears and some self-harming behaviors,” Katie adds, “But I never felt joy.”

CBT is the gold standard therapy for treating depression and anxiety, one or both of which will afflict around 20 percent of people during their lifetime. It may be the best remedy we have, a growing number of scientists say, but it doesn’t help everyone. Research shows that only half of patients benefit and that only half of those who do benefit do so long-term. CBT does reduce symptoms such as low mood and fearfulness. For many, however, it doesn’t restore positive feelings such as happiness or excitement.

“We had always assumed that by reducing negative emotions—anger, fear, anxiety, sadness—the natural consequence would be for positive emotions to rise on their own,” says clinical psychologist Michelle Craske of the University of California, Los Angeles. “And they don’t—well, not reliably.” Read More

New Sacramento Sheriff Policy Will Change How Others Respond To Emergency Mental Health Calls

From sacbee.com
By Rosalio Ahumada, February 10, 2025

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper recently implemented a new policy that stops his deputies from responding to mental health calls unless the situation involves a crime.

Cooper fears a court ruling last year now puts his office and his responding deputies in legal jeopardy if someone dies. The sheriff also said his deputies aren’t adequately trained to help someone in a mental health crisis.

“Why am I putting my deputies in harms way,” Cooper said Tuesday in a news conference announcing his policy change. “They don’t want to have to take someone’s life. No one wants that to ever happen, it’s very traumatic on our officers.” Read More

If you or someone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, there are resources available to provide free and confidential support. Call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or Teen Line at 1-800-TLC-TEEN or The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 for LGBTQ young people.

The Catalyst Center, in collaboration with DHCS, is hosting a series of Payment Reform Trainings designed specifically for county behavioral health departments and Medi-Cal providers. These trainings are a must-attend for anyone involved in implementing Payment Reform.

This webinar series will give you with the knowledge and skills to navigate Payment Reform successfully. From understanding value-based payments to mastering billing best practices and ensuring fiscal sustainability, these sessions are packed with expert-led insights, practical strategies, and real-world examples.

Why Attend?
-Gain clarity on Payment Reform goals and implementation strategies.
-Learn how to maximize reimbursement and streamline workflows.
-Engage in Q&A sessions with industry experts and peers.
-Ensure your organization is prepared for the changes ahead.

Training Schedule: Click on title to register
March 6, 12-2PM: An Implementation Update – Kickstart the series with an introduction to Payment Reform, its purpose, and key foundational knowledge.
March 27, 2-4PM: CPT Basics and Common Challenges – Dive into common CPT codes, billing strategies, and real-world case examples.
April 24, 2-4PM: Quality Assurance and Billing Best Practices – Learn how to streamline workflows, manage claims, and ensure financial sustainability.
May 22, 2-4PM: Managing for Success – Explore strategies for fiscal sustainability, telehealth integration, and aligning with DHCS’ CalAIM goals.
June 26, 12-2PM: A Summary and Discussion – Wrap up the series with a comprehensive review, key takeaways, and an extensive Q&A session.

Download the Webinar Series Flyer

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

Winston Churchill