Help FOSATH Create Change

Mental Health Committee

Chairs

Dr. Cri Campbell-Schine

Gigi Crowder

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Long Term Goal:

• Improve the way the county and cities of Contra Costa County respond to mental health crises.

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Immediate Goals:

1. Create the Miles Hall pilot for county-wide 24/7non-police response to mental health crises.

2. Cost analysis for county-wide 24/7non-police response to mental health crises.

3. Through letter writing and speaking, pressure all city councils in Contra Costa County to support Miles Hall pilot of new county-wide mental health crises.

Implicit Bias Committee

Chairs

Gigi Crowder

Ogie Strogatz

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Goal: 

• Increase community trust and engagement in Walnut Creek by cultivating greater awareness and understanding about implicit bias.

​​In response to the concerns elevated by the Friends of Scott, Alexis and Taun Hall (FOSATH), the City of Walnut Creek with input from FOSATH engaged Jason Seals & Associates (JSA) to lead a series of community listening and dialogue sessions as a means of:

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• Providing those personally impacted by mental illness, racism/anti-blackness, and/or the intersection of these two experiences with the opportunity to express their perspectives and opinions.

• Providing residents from marginalized racial/ethnic groups a safe space to discuss their experiences and perceptions regarding potential inequitable treatment in the City, while engaging in collective healing to rebuild hope.

• Acknowledging harm and identifying how harm may be reduced, while identifying hopes (possibilities) and needs (urgencies).

• Exploring the distinction between policing and public safety and the overall goal of these efforts.

• Exploring options for response to mental health crises that are not principally dependent upon police actions.

• Identifying the challenges and concerns that police personnel (dispatchers, supervisors, and officers) have in responding to mental health crisis events.

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The report out on 1/26/21 by the JSA is here.

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Collaboration Building Committee

Chair

Gigi Crowder

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Goal:

• Identify and collaborate with advocacy groups who align with FOSATH’s mission to educate and advocate for systemic changes in Walnut Creek and surrounding communities with respect to law enforcement’s response to individuals living with mental health challenges, and to enable equitable outcomes for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).

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1. Add additional members to this committee. Ideal candidates would be local and state-connected cultural brokers for affinity groups such as:

   • Peers and family advocates

   • Like-minded, ethnic and culturally specific organizations

   • Government staff such as individuals from the Public Defenders’ Office etc.

2. Work with cities in this county to align with our overall goals of a non-police response to mental health crisis.

3. A premiere goal is identifying and collaborating with city specific advocacy groups such as diversity task forces, etc. with a goal to expand our reach and messaging. 

4. Collaborate with FOSATH’s Local Mobilization Committee’s efforts to leverage opportunities with a goal to maximize our efforts into other regions using relationships built locally.

Committee for Regular Meetings with Walnut Creek Leadership

Chairs

Shiyama Clunie

Glenn Wechsler

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Goal 

• To hold the city staff and FOSATH accountable on FOSATH issues. To update each other on progress in these areas:

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1. City leadership in the creation of a 24/7 non-police mental health crisis response program

2. Implementation of effective de-escalation, CIT, and implicit bias training for Walnut Creek police officers

3. The City’s effective adoption of 8 Can’t Wait policies

4. The City’s pursuit of independent investigation of Miles’ case.

Legislative Outreach Committee

Chair

Kathryn Durham-Hammer

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Long-term Goals:

1. State-wide legislation and funding for 24/7 mental health crisis response in every city and county.

2. State-wide legislation on police accountability and independent investigation for every officer-involved shooting in which a civilian is hurt or killed.

3. Legislation to create and invest in a new non-violent, non-police paradigm of public safety. 

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Immediate Goals:

1. Connect with state and local elected officials to communicate what happened to Miles and the work of FOSATH.

2. Build a network of elected officials that can partner with FOSATH to achieve the long-term goals.

Police Accountability Committee

Chairs

Rachel Grant

Shiyama Clunie

Vivian McHenry

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Goal: Ensure the Contra Costa District Attorney review is conducted fairly and impartially, and if not, pressure the state Attorney General for an independent investigation.

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1. Secure completion of Contra Costa District Attorney review.

2. Ensure that the DA review is conducted fairly and impartially.

3. Secure a meeting with the Attorney General’s Office, to discuss Miles’ case, share our concern that it is not being reviewed/wasn’t reviewed impartially, and to request an independent investigation.