Congressman DeSaulnier to Present Funds to CASA Contra Costa County for Mental Health Services for Current and Former Foster Youth

April 6, 2023 Press Release

Concord, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier will present CASA Contra Costa County with a $600,000 check on April 12, 2023 at 2:00 pm for mental health services and education programming for current and former youth in foster care. 

This funding comes from Congressman DeSaulnier’s inclusion of $21.7 million in federal funding for 15 projects to benefit Contra Costa County in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617). Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will be onsite at CASA’s Concord office to present the check.

CASA Contra Costa County will use this funding for its A Home Within-CASA Therapy Project (ACTP), which matches volunteer clinical therapists licensed in California with youth in foster care and those who have aged out.

Most, if not all youth in foster care suffer from anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yet wait times to get mental health support for these youth are over a year. When someone is struggling with mental health issues that keep them from living their best life, a year is entirely too long.

Thanks to this funding, CASA Contra Costa County will do additional outreach and education and provide more therapists to work with California youth ages 12 to 21 in the foster system and those who have aged out. These services will help youth to reach their goals at school or work, improve communication, and increase their self-esteem.

“This funding will allow us to increase our capacity to serve our young people in foster care in Contra Costa County, giving them the best possible chance at success in life,” said Ann Wrixon, Executive Director of CASA Contra Costa County. “We are very grateful to Congressman DeSaulnier for his amazing accomplishment.”

CASA Contra Costa County was founded in 1981 and became one of the first four CASA organizations in the country.

CASA's current programs address the primary causes of poverty. 100% of CASA youth graduate from high school or earn a GED; our reproductive health program provides education and access to reproductive health care; and our mental health program provides teletherapy for foster youth who do not qualify for services under Medi-Cal.

For more information, contact Ann Wrixon, Executive Director at annwrixon@cccocasa.org.