Basic Organization Information
ACT FOR MENTAL HEALTH
- Physical Address:
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San Jose, CA
95110
- EIN:
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77-0227659
- Web URL:
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www.actmentalhealth.org
- NTEE Category:
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F Mental Health, Crisis Intervention
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F30 Mental Health Treatment
- Year Founded:
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1956
- Ruling Year:
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1989
- How This Organization Is Funded:
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Grant Writing - $25,000
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Counseling Programs - $120,000
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Individuals/Churches - $7,000
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Mission Statement
<div> </div><div>"The mission of ACT for Mental
Health is to empower and rehabilitate persons who are socially, mentally,
economically and/or situationally disadvantaged. We fulfill our mission by
relieving obstacles to emotional well being and by restoring and enhancing
strengths through acceptance in a safe, stable and professionally guided
environment which provides tools and support for resolution of personal,
emotional and situational life problems.”
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Impact Summary from the Nonprofit
<div> </div><div>At ACT, referrals that reflect a need for ACT’s professional services are on the increase. These referrals are diverse, coming from individuals, County Social Services, other not-for-profits organizations, Courts, internet, County Mental Health and just word of mouth. These requests continue to escalate as the economy continues to falter.</div>
<div> </div><div>The goals for 2011 and beyond are the following:</div>
<div>- Raise awareness of the need for mental health service: the need increases with gradual elimination of County services through budget cutbacks, reductions and layoffs from corporations, etc.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>- Secure our information technology infrastructure to support the expanding services base, secure client files, and equip regular and volunteer staff with tools that ensure privacy and quality care.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>- Increase funds for development activities including access to grants and donations (corporate and private) to support client needs and administrative requirements.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>- Implement Succession Management planning for key roles within the organization with a focus on Executive Director</div>
<div> </div>
<div>- Access and plan for real estate facility changes.</div>
<div> </div>
- While we recognize these are aggressive goals they are within our reach with the support of donors, public agencies and partnerships.
Revenue and Expenses
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Revenue and Expense data from Forms 990 for 2011, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003 are included in the GuideStar Premium Report.
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Balance Sheet
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Leadership
Ms. Wanda Alexander, LCSW, BCD
Term:
Since
Jan
1989
Leadership Statement:
<div> </div><div>ACT does an amazing amount of professional work on a very limited budget. In the past year, ACT held 2234 client sessions with individuals, families and groups. Only one fourth of our clients come referred by an insurance or stipend program; this leaves the rest, or three fourths, who must pay from their own resources based on our sliding scale. Average income from these self-pay people is less than half the cost of service; individuals, corporations and foundations contribute the balance. ACT’s long-standing record of service to the community combined with its user-friendly environment contributes to its reputation as viable, reputable and adaptable—a human service treasure indeed!</div>ACT’s professional staff is diverse in background, specialty and language. Because staff is licensed in Social Work, Medicine, Psychology and Marriage/Family therapy, ACT is able to offer a range of therapies from intense individual work with trauma and loss to classes in anger management and positive parenting as well as support groups for Spanish-speaking men and women. The Fireside Friendship Club continues to offer respite and support for people with residual mental illness. They are now reaching out to other seniors struggling to manage their residual emotional issues.<br /><div>Overall, ACT strives to provide quality, affordable mental health services to anyone in need. In doing so ACT improves the quality of life for individuals, families and groups in the San Jose/Santa Clara Valley. ACT’s goal is to build resilient people, healthy families, reliable workers, and good citizens. As a small, not for profit, community-based agency, ACT stands out as a model of caring, support and community involvement.</div><div> </div>Wanda Alexander | CEO – ACT for Mental Health
Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
Low cost counseling services
- Budget:
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$210,000
- Category:
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Mental Health, Substance Abuse
- Population Served:
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Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General
Program Description:
ACT provides affordable, (sliding scale) licensed mental health therapies<br />for low income and uninsured persons. Our therapies treat a wide range of<br />emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression, child trauma, abuse<br />and neglect, marriage relationships, domestic violence, court ordered and<br />situational adjustment disorders.<br />These services also include focused classes such as parenting and anger<br />management as well as support groups for people with residual illness and<br />for Spanish-speaking men and women.
Program Long-Term Success:
This program began in the 1990’s and has gown steadily ever since.<br />It started to meet client need with no outside contracts. Today we<br />contract or sub-contract with at least five different entities. We<br />anticipate that the demand for service will accelerate in the current<br />fiscal climate.
Program Short-Term Success:
Clients meet requirement of courts for counseling and begin to address basic<br />problems; clients referred by social services benefit from collaborative<br />work by both ACT and their caseworkers. Children in trauma from violence<br />abuse and neglect gain in trust and self esteem as well as self reliance. The<br />practical and interactive nature of the parenting and anger-management<br />classes provide a framework for client use in restructuring their life-style and<br />self management.
Program Success Monitored by:
Each program utilizes client satisfaction surveys.<br />Supervisors and managers use these in quality assurance and management<br />reviews.<br /><br />Example of program success.<br />See child trauma example…
Program Success Examples:
<div>In 4 months of reunification therapy, James has thrown very impressive tantrums in our office and at supervised visits. Gradually the parents have learned to give "time-outs" for James when he begins to "lose it" in order to bypass the tantrums. It is a noticeable relief for James and his parents.</div><div>Now, every week the therapy room is full of this child's love for both parents and the trauma of separation has slowly been balanced through family and individual therapy.</div><div>Now James' incredible wonderful energy can be directed toward play and learning ways to master himself. <br /></div>
Program:
Support Groups
- Budget:
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$8,000
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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Adults
Program Description:
Support/therapeutic groups for people with residual mental illness and/or for Spanish speaking men and women offer opportunity for personal growth and enrichment through activities interpersonal exchange and professional guidance. Intergenerational and intercultural information create better understanding and acceptance, paving the way for fuller participation in the larger community. Opportunity to take responsibility within the group enhances esteem and creates a bridge into other community groups. Support groups encourage each individual to discover and utilize personal skills and to participate in the group as a whole.
Program Long-Term Success:
<div>The Fireside Friendship Club for people with residual mental illness has existed and maintained for fifty years, serving an important need for belonging and acceptance. Club members take pride in managing their own bank account and in electing officers while still depending on the guidance of a professional staff person. It is a unique and important group where individuals are fully accepted regardless of handicap.</div><div>The Spanish speaking men's and women's groups provide an important intercultural experience and a place to solve personal issues of everyday life in this country. They help members gain better understandings of American customs and practices as well as place to belong. Support of one another is an essential part of this program.<br /></div>
Program Short-Term Success:
Group participants have a sense of belonging and are able to sustain and maintain equilibrium through difficulties with the knowledge that support and help is available at group meetings and that professional guidance is accessible at ACT.
Program Success Monitored by:
Licensed supervision and consultation for groups is ongoing and is reviewed in a monthly basis so that alterations and revision can be effected.
Program Success Examples:
<div>Janie* came in to ACT on referral from the Mental Health Department of the County. Initially, she presented as non-verbal and withdrawn. Individual counseling for her was not appropriate so she was offered membership in the Fireside Club. For several months she remained a silent observer, but gradually began to offer to help with lunch preparation. Succeeding in that, she began to timidly comment or to participate in the discussion group. It wasn't long until she began to assert herself, even taking leadership roles in presentations to outside groups.</div><div>What a big change for Janie!</div><div> </div>
Evidence of Impact
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Organizational Strengths
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Areas for Improvement
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