Welcome to the CASRA Newsletter

In this issue:

-2025 Spring Gathering Update

-Court upholds contempt findng against California over prison mental health crisis

-VA shake-up hits mental health services for veterans

-Pastor fights mental health stigma and shares his own struggles

-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

2025 Spring Gathering Update

Due to significant logistic challenges, CASRA staff felt that they would not be able to present a gathering deserving of its members and guests. Therefore, the Spring Gathering has been postponed.
The CASRA 2025 Fall Gathering is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at Preservation Park in Oakland. Click here to visit the Preservation Park website.
More to come!

9th Circuit upholds contempt finding against California over prison mental health crisis

From sfchronicle.com
By Bob Egelko, March 20, 2025

California prisons have failed for decades to provide staffing or treatment for many thousands of mentally ill inmates and must pay fines that could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal judge’s ruling that the state was in contempt of court for not complying with judicial orders — first issued in 1995 — to hire enough psychiatrists and health care workers to treat prisoners with mental illnesses, which have led to hundreds of suicides.

Lisa Ells, a lawyer for the inmates, said the fines, which increase over time, now total more than $197 million and will be used to increase and improve the prisons’ staffing. Among the 91,000 people now held in California prisons, she said, about 34,000 have serious mental illnesses. Read More

VA Shake-up Hits Mental Health Services for US Veterans

From reuters.com

By Robin Respaut, March 20, 2025

Joey Cortez, who served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, had been waiting since August to see a mental health specialist from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, when he experienced a fresh jolt of anxiety.

Cortez was fired last month from his human resources job at the agency - one of about 2,400 employees who lost their jobs at Veterans' Affairs (VA) in the first wave of President Donald Trump's efforts to shrink the federal workforce.

"Once the firings happened and I was terminated, I started having panic attacks to the point where I black out," Cortez, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, told Reuters. The layoff is also making it harder to maintain his sobriety, as a recovering alcohol. Read More

This Harlem Pastor Fights Mental Health Stigma — And Shares His Own Struggles

From npr.org

By Katia Riddle, March 23, 2025

It was his own mental health crisis that helped Michael A. Walrond, Jr. to understand and embrace mental health care. "Out of nowhere, I had a suicidal ideation," Walrond recalls. He was in his late 30s at the time, already busy building a life and expanding his congregation at First Corinthian Baptist in Harlem, New York.

His Masters of Divinity degree hadn't involved much training in clinical mental health care, and the subject was not a part of his family life growing up in New York City. "I grew up in a traditional West Indian Caribbean household," he says. "It definitely wasn't talked about."
Suicidal ideation — thoughts of dying by suicide — can be a sign of serious mental illness, and Walrond had not realized at the time that he was dealing with depression and anxiety. Research shows clergy suffer from high rates of burnout and often struggle with thoughts of suicide and self-harm. After his own suicidal ideation, Walrond immediately pursued mental health care. 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 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.

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
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

In recognition of Opening Day 2025

"Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets."

Yogi Berra