County Supervisors Provide for low-income families essential needs
SAN JOSE –Low-income families and youth in Santa Clara County District Five receiving services for mental health and learning differences through the nonprofit Children’s Health Council (CHC) will soon get additional support from Santa Clara County. A 2024-25 Budget initiative championed by County Supervisor Joe Simitian will allow CHC to use grant funding to address food insecurity and other basic needs that can impact their clients’ ability to access appointments and make gains in their treatment goals.
“It’s hard enough for young people to reach out for mental health services and support when they need it,” said Simitian. “But when folks don’t have access to reliable transportation to get to their provider, or need to prioritize finding food or shelter to survive over going to their appointments, that only makes it harder to get them the help they deserve. I expect these funds will help provide folks with some additional stability as they get support through CHC.”
CHC provides services for mental health and learning differences for youth up to 25 years old from diverse backgrounds, regardless of language, location, or ability to pay. With locations in Palo Alto, San Jose, and East Palo Alto, CHC serves over 2,500 direct clients each year. This includes more than 500 Santa Clara County youth (ages 6-18) and their families, many of whom require bilingual evaluation and therapy, and 140 K-10 students with severe emotional and behavioral challenges through the Esther B. Clark School at CHC.
Critical factors such as food and housing insecurity, transportation expenses, and lack of other necessities can hinder CHC's clients' health and well-being—impacting their ability to access appointments and affecting treatment. By addressing these barriers, CHC aims to help children become resilient, happy, and successful at home, school, and in life.
Dr. Ryan Eisenberg, CHC’s Chief Executive Officer shared: “When our Medi-Cal and Esther B. Clark School families are struggling with their basic needs, we feel it deeply at CHC. We are incredibly grateful for this support from the County, which will significantly enhance our ability to meet the holistic needs of the families we serve. Addressing basic needs such as food, shelter, and transportation is crucial for our clients to focus on their mental health and educational goals. This funding will help us remove these barriers, ensuring that our clients can fully engage in their treatment and ultimately thrive.”
County grant funding will be used by CHC to purchase gift cards to help cover basic needs, such as food, shelter, transportation, and supplies, and to support the food pantry at CHC’s Palo Alto location. While on site for appointments, food insecure clients are encouraged to take home food for their families.
“Folks in our area sometimes take for granted that the basic necessities – food, clothing, and shelter – are taken care of,” said Simitian. “For many of the young people served by CHC, that’s just not the case. A little extra help goes a long way in helping these kids and their families realize their potential.”