Family Support Program

dual diagnosis arrowsLong term psychiatric disabilities and substance use disorders can have a significant impact on families as well as the individuals who are living with these disorders. Our family support program provides education, consultation, and counseling to our clients' family members and significant others. With the client's permission and participation, we work with individual families and friends as well as providing multi-family group support and education.

Family Support MeetingIn our regularly scheduled series, participating families listen to a psychoeducational presentation and discuss topics of interest to them. Some of the subjects included previously have been Psychiatric Disabilities: Schizophrenic and Mood disorders; Psychiatric medications: what are they, what do they do; Treatment and Recovery; Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Relapse Prevention; Coping Skills, Resources, and How to balance it all.

At Bonita House, Inc., we are committed to our clients' recovery. People living with dual disorders can and will get better, and the families and significant people in their lives are a vital part of that recovery. We recognize that the efforts of families in supporting their loved ones have often been heroic and under-appreciated. We strive to treat family members with the respect, compassion, and appreciation that we would want to be treated with if any of our family members was a participant in a recovery program.

 

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY

Groups sponsored by NAMI Alameda County/Family Alliance for the Mentally Ill

AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP. Fourth Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mental Health Association, 954 60th Street, #10, Oakland. Call Steve Bischoff at 510-825-5010.

SOUTH ALAMEDA COUNTY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP. 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., 4361 Agena Circle, Union City. Call Patty Espeseth at 510-727-2700 x 4156 for more information.

Family Support Groups Sponsored by Other Organizations

NAMI-EAST BAY. Second Wedneday, 7 p.m. at the Berkeley the Albany Methodist Church, 980 Stannage Ave. at Marin Ave. in Albany. Enter grom Stannage Ave. door & come upstairs. Also, support group for families of children, adolescents & teens with mental illness meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday at Albany Methodist Church: call 510-524-1250 for more information.

ASIAN-LANGUAGE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS. Family Support for Healthy Minds – Mandarin & Cantonese speaking families meet one Saturday each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Meetings are held at 523 8th Street in Oakland. Call 510-522-0924 for more information.

BERKELEY BIPOLAR SUPPORT GROUP. Every Thursday, 7-9 p.m.& Saturday 11 – 1 p.m., Herrick Hospital-Level A. Open to both families and to persons being treated for bipolar disorder. For more information call Janna Wertzat 510-653-2959 or Mayona Endahl at 510-420-0868.

BERKELEY FAMILIES SUPPORT GROUP. Every Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30p.m. at 2640 M. L. King Jr. Way. Enter on Derby. For parents, spouses and partners. Call Marianne Davis at 510-981-5290 for more information.

FAITH-BASED SUPPORT GROUP. Nondenominational family support group meets 1st & 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Castro Valley, 18550 Redwood Road, Room 202. For more information please call 510-582-0515.

HERRICK HOSPITAL FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP for Families of Older Adults with severe mental illness. Lead by Monica Nowakowski. Third Tuesday, 2:30 – 4 p.m. Open to the community. Call 510-234-4100.

THE DEPRESSION AND SADNESS SUPPORT GROUP – A program of the Life Reaching Across to Life Organization. Meets every Monday, 7:30-9 p.m., 3833 Peralta Blvd., suite D, Fremont. For more information call J. “Scotty” Scott at 510-745-9500 or Rev. Barbara Meyers at 510-796-5722.

DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE CHAPTER. Every Friday, 7:15-8:45 p.m. Castro Valley Bipolar support Group, Eden Hospital Conference Center, Conference Room A, ground floor. 20103 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley. Call Robyn Tabbert at 925-548-7009 for more information.

KAISER FAMILY EDUCATION & SUPPORT GROUP. 6 WEEKS SERIES; Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m., 3900 Broadway in Oakland. Call Cathy Farrell at 510-752-6714 to pre-register. Not a drop-in group. Individual must be Kaiser member to attend this group.

VILLA FAIRMONT SUPORT GROUP. Every Wednesday at 6 p.m., meets in the Conference Room (for families who have a relative in either of the Villa Fairmont Program). Call Jennifer Newfield at 510-352-9690 for information.

NAMI TRI-VALLEY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP. Fourth Monday, 7-8:30 p.m. St. Clare’s Episcopal Church, 3350 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton. Call Russell or Donna White at 925-455-6901 or e-mail russdonnawhite@comcast.net for more information.

NAMI TRI-VALLEY FAMILY/CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP. Second Monday, 7:15-9 p.m., Livermore Public Library, 1188 S. Livermore Ave. Enter the main doors, turn a sharp left and follow the short hallway to the Library Board Room. Call Marsha McInnis for more information at 925-980-5331 or e-mail marsha_mci@comcast.net.  

FAMILY/CAREGIVER/PROVIDER SUPPORT GROUP.  Every Wednesday of the month, 6-7 p.m. at Fairmont Hospital. 15400 Foothill Blvd., Building C, San Leandro. Call Maurice Fried at 510-895-4369.

Parent resources & support group.  First Tuesday, 7-9 p.m., Pathway To Wellness, 5674 Stoneridge Drive, suite 116, Pleasanton. Call Suzi Glorioso at 925-443-1797 or e-mail glorios4@comcast.net for more information.

FAMILY CARE GIVER INFORMATION, REFERRAL & SUPPORT SERVICE

The Mental Health Association provides a central source of information, referrals, advice and support for families/caregivers who are trying to help someone with mental illness.

MHAAC office hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, from 11:30-4 & Fri 9-5 p.m., call 510-835-0188.

JOHN GEORGE PAVILION hours: Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs 5-7:30 p.m., call 510-835-0188.

 

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