The goal of the Family Links to Mental Health project is to improve access to the mental health system for San Francisco Families by providing a multi-lingual, multi-cultural parent-to-parent peer Phone Helpline, plus clinical support and services.

Through this "family friendly" access point, parents and caretakers of children birth through 21 will receive peer support, professional consultation, and assistance in accessing mental health and other services.

To contact the Helpline or Family Links staff call Open Gate Family Resource Center at (415) 920-5040

Project Services include:

• Phone Helpline: Phone Line staff are all parents of children with a variety of disabilities and can share practical experiences. Talking with another parent can help reduce feelings of isolation and confusion. The family-to-family approach allows the Family Links program to reach out to offer preventative care and early intervention services to families whose children are at risk of developing severe mental illness. Parents and professionals can also email staff.
  
  
• Consultation: Families and professionals working with children and families can obtain resources and consultation from Family Links staff.
  
  
• Short-term Case Management: Family Links to Mental Health can help families navigate mental health resources and insure that they do not get "lost" in complicated systems. Community referrals are researched to provide families with a choice of supports. Through a connection with Community Mental Health Children’s Division, the program works closely with the Mental Health ACCESS line to provide a smooth transition to other mental health services. Family Links provide follow-up to insure that referrals are successful.
  
  
• Short-term Counseling: Clinical Staff may provide short-term counseling for individuals and families while they wait to access long-term support services.
  

Family Links to Mental Health is funded through a contract with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Community Mental Health Services, Child, Youth and Family Section. In-kind and supporting services are provided by various government, foundation, and corporate, and individual donors through the Open Gate Family Resource Center. Project staff represent San Francisco’s diverse communities and offer services in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Project Partners include Mental Health ACCESS, Talkline, APA Hotline, Suicide Prevention, and CHALK Youthline.