The California Mental Health Advocates for Children & Youth conference is the most recognized and longest-standing conference in the state of California focused upon the social, emotional and behavioral health of children, youth and their families. Our annual conference is one of the state’s most powerful events for those interested in advocating and promoting the policies, programs, and practices that enhance the well-being of vulnerable children, youth and families.
CMHACY’s past two virtual conferences called out systemic racism head-on at a moment when America was forced to address how institutional racism is pervasive throughout our healthcare and our mental health systems—we were challenged to make and implement REAL change—challenged to check ourselves to see how we make the table bigger, and how we root racism out of the systems in our daily lives.
As quoted from our first virtual conference by our Board Treasurer, “CMHACY will no longer be in the cheap seats”.
In an effort to create a more accessible and inclusive learning experience, we are excited to announce that this year’s annual conference will be a HYBRID format! The conference will be held at Asilomar April 27 – April 29, 2022 for you to attend in person, virtually, or a combination of the two. Both virtual and onsite audiences will have opportunities to interact with each other and our presenters in real-time throughout the conference.
We have seen the very best and the very worst of humankind over the past 2 years. The world has grappled with immense trauma, grief and loss on a scale unimagined, while the struggle to achieve well-being for children and families across all communities goes on. The absence of true diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice continues to disproportionately impact communities of color.
Yes, we have made some—mostly limited—progress, but so much more remains to be accomplished. We have been challenged to change our ways and innovate: To keep what is working, eliminate what is harmful, and build upon what can be improved. So…what have we learned? Where do we go from here? What comes next?
CMHACY’s vision for our 42nd annual conference is to explore how the events of 2020 and beyond have impacted the well-being of children and families, particularly in communities of color, and to come away with a plan to improve access to resources and to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice so that ALL children and families can live safe, healthy, and productive lives.