Oakland Family Services President & CEO Jaimie Clayton featured on Civic Center TV
Oakland Family Services President & CEO Jaimie Clayton made a second appearance on Civic Center TV Dec. 14 to talk about the importance of taking care of your mental health during the pandemic and how the holiday season makes it even tougher for individuals struggling with mental health or substance use issues.
“The increased sense of isolation and despair a lot of people are feeling as this has extended so much further definitely is amplifying what we are seeing in both mental health and substance abuse fronts,” Clayton said.
“Overdoses are up. Substance use is up. We have to look at all of that in light of both the holidays and the pandemic and how do we reach out and provide people access to treatment and the supports that they need.”
During the interview, Clayton also discussed virtual services, supporting staff during the pandemic, challenges in foster care and the agency's upcoming 100th anniversary.
The interview comes about two months after Clayton’s first appearance on Civic Center TV. In October, she gave an excellent overview of the services the agency offers, the challenges our clients are facing, and how our programs pivoted to online services during the coronavirus pandemic. She also discusses how Day One clients are benefiting from virtual therapy and how a grant from Ballmer Group will help the agency provide critical mental health services during the pandemic and into the future.
