This document is an annual report from 2013 for Caminar, an organization dedicated to improving quality of life for people with disabilities. It provides services like independent living, jobs programs, residential treatment, medication clinics, and supported housing across several Northern California counties. The report discusses expanding programs in 2013 like Bridges to Wellness, which integrates physical and mental healthcare. It also notes celebrating 50 years of services and continuing to invest in employees while delivering high quality, cutting-edge services using best practices.

1. INDEPENDENT
LIVING
OLIVOS
JOBS
PLUS
RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT
MEDICATION
CLINIC
SUPPORTED
HOUSING
ANNUAL REPORT
2013
COUNTIES:
SAN MATEO
SOLANO
BUTTE
SAN FRANCISCO
Dedicated to improving
the quality of life for
people with disabilities by
providing opportunities
to live with dignity and
independence in the
community

2. NED MATHES
Board President
DENNIS PANTANO
Board co-vice president
LORI PAULIN
Board co-vice president
RICHARD VAN DOREN, JR.
Treasurer
WINDI SNEARLY
Secretary
CHIP HUGGINS
CEO
CAROL WHITFIELD
KAREN MCCOWN
LIA KISON
MARIE KOERPER
MICHELLE LEU ZACCONE
STEVE PORTER
SUZAN GETCHELL-WALLACE
TED ROBINSON
TED STINSON
This past year was once again marked by significant changes,
internally and externally for Caminar, with the roll out of the
Affordable Health Care Act and internal continuous improvement,
demonstrating our clinical efficacy, cost savings, consumer and
funder satisfaction. Through the support and funding from our
community partners, Peninsula Health Care District and Sequoia
Health Care District, we have expanded our Bridges to Wellness
program, integrating physical and mental health to the clients we
serve in San Mateo County.
As we prepare to celebrate our 50th year of providing quality
services to people with disabilities so they can live quality lives by
providing opportunities to live in the community with dignity and
independence, we will continue to partner with our customers
and clients to provide quality services that allow individuals with
disabilities to live longer, healthier, and more hopeful lives. Our
50th anniversary celebration will mark the 4th year of “In concert
with Caminar: breaking the stigma of mental illness”. Featuring
prominent artists and members of our community to speak about
their experiences with mental illness. (Space holder for date and
artist)
We continue to invest in our employees, the single most important
asset we bring to the work of helping people with serious mental
health and developmental disabilities to recover and improve their
lives. We know that cultivating dynamic and engaged employees
is critical to supporting clients in the process of recovery. Our
employee’s benefits and professional development opportunities
exceed those organizations we compete with.
At Caminar, we are committed to delivering exceptional cutting-
edge quality services, using state-of-the-art technology, integrated
best practices of our services and securing housing and employment
for all that we serve.
Sincereley,
NED MATHES CHIP HUGGINS
President CEO
President/CEO’s Letter
NED MATHES CHIP HUGGINS

3. Mental illness touches 1
in 4 individuals and in San
Mateo County this translates
into more than 140,000 adults.
Caminar is doing its part to address
those with severe and persistent
mental illness in San Mateo county by
providing services such as intensive case
management, medication clinic, residential
facilities, supported education, supported
housing and supported vocational services
to over 1,400 individuals in 2013.
Redwood House is our licensed crisis
residential program that provides an
alternative to hospitalization for those
experiencing acute and distressing
psychiatric crisis. Redwood House
provides a multitude of services designed
to help our clients gain independence,
mental and physical wellness and life
management skills to eventually live
successfully in the community. We offer
clients therapeutic groups which aim to
address psychiatric symptoms as well as
activity groups and educational groups
such as exercise, healthy habits and
menu planning. In 2013 80% of our clients
leaving Redwood House were able to gain
enough skills to live more independently.
We serve our most medically fragile
and acute clients through our Full
Service Partnership (FSP) program
which offers greater staff to client
ratio for intensive case management
services, a traveling in-home nurse
and financial housing assistance. In
2013 we have helped our FSP clients
reduce their incarceration days by 98%
and reduce hospitalizations by 91%.
Wellness Recovery Action
Plan Program (WRAPP)
works with our most
independent
clients by
providing
personalized
rehabilitation
services to
people who
need support
while they develop
and work towards
accomplishing their
life goals. Last year 27%
of WRAPP clients graduated from the
public mental health system, or now need
medication only services.
Our supported housing program provides
clients with assistance in accessing federal
housing subsidy programs and low cost
housing. Last year this program provided
services to 334 individuals and over 99%
maintained their residences for at least 12
months.
Caminar also provides Supported
Education, a nationally recognized service
to individuals who wish to pursue post-
secondary education at the College of
San Mateo. Academic counselors assist
participants with registration, financial
aid and academic advising while Program
Instructors provide specialized courses
in Symptom Management and Peer
Counseling. Last school year Transition to
College students had an average GPA of 3.4.
MENTAL ILLNESS
TOUCHES
1in
4INDIVIDUALS
Caminar also serves Transitioned Aged
Youth through our YAIL case management
program and our Youth Empowerment
and Safety (YES) program. YES provides
Seeking Safety skills to youth who
have experienced trauma. Through
community-based engagement of youth
YES groups teach young people to
develop positive and effective coping
skills, reduce addictive behaviors, develop
a network of supportive people, and
learn to successfully manage day-to-day
challenges.
San Mateo Region
We all know the reputation of San Mateo County, it’s arguably the best place to
live and work, and the numbers and statistics bear this out. San Mateo ranks
near the top in per capita income, per household income. San Mateo’s overall
health ranking is 4th, which is attributable to nonprofits such as Caminar
working tirelessly on your behalf to bring about healthy outcomes for 2013.
FY11/12
FY12/13
SAN MATEO
1
11
17
3
32
8
11
3
SOLANO
SAN MATEO
Graduations
Step Downs
SOLANO

4. Solano Region
TLaurel Creek is Solano regions crisis
residential facility which provides an
alternative to hospitalization for those
experiencing a psychiatric crisis. Laurel
Creek provided a safe place for Sandy
Costa to hit rock bottom. Sandy’s husband
had died and she did not have a job or
savings which made her susceptible to a
psychiatric crisis. Her major depression
hindered her ability to function as she
normally would and she needed the
guidance of Laurel Creek to get her back
on her feet. The assistance she received
from Laurel Creek allowed Sandy to feel
“safe and protected”. She states, “The
support of the program helped me think
through things, and slowly, I was able to
set some small goals. I was able to get
back in touch with home again, and I know
without staying at Laurel Creek I would
not have found hope as quickly as I did.”
Sandy now has secure housing and her
mental health is stable. She has worked
for Caminar at the Wellness and Recovery
Center for nearly 3 years and says,
“Working as a peer counselor gives me a
great sense of satisfaction. I look forward
to going to work. My co-workers are
wonderful and I feel Caminar provides a
safe and supportive environment for all
staff but especially those who have lived
with a mental illness. “68% of adults with
a mental health disorder also have at least
one medical condition. In our Solano
region we strive to address both health
concerns by combining our Medication
Clinic and Full Service Partnership (FSP)
programs. FSP is an intensive case
management program designed to
assist our most chronically ill clients and
streamlines the process of a holistic health
care. Last year Caminar expanded FSP
services to include a new facility and 26
more adults while also enabling five clients
to gain enough skills and independence to
step down into a lower level of care and.
Comprehensive Case Management
(CCM) is Solano’s newest mid-level case
management program. Both CCM and
management services to help our clients
become more independent within the
community setting while concurrently
working towards accomplishing their
individualized self-directed care plan.
Last year 12 clients were able to step
down to a lower level of care from these
case management programs.
Having a place to call home is such an
important aspect of recovery and essential
to one’s overall wellbeing. Caminar
understands this basic need and strives
to eliminate homelessness in our client
population by providing a supported
housing program. This program includes
Laurel Gardens, a permanent independent
living home for low-income individuals
with disabilities and Gateway, a 30 day
transitional residential facility with case
management.
Wellness and Recovery Center is a safe
and welcoming drop in center for anyone
with a known or suspected mental health
diagnosis. The center provides support
groups focusing on education and pre-
employment preparation, one-on-one
counseling, peer support, individualized
relapse prevention plans and a daily warm
lunch. Last year more than 250 individuals
participated in groups and many reported
a change in symptomology and a greater
connection to their community as a result
of engaging with the center.
The support of the
program helped me
get back in touch with
home again
68%
Of adults with a mental
health disorder also have at
least one medical condition