Call to Action

Help SCRC tell the County of San Diego not to cut programs that work!

Click HERE to learn more about the impact these cuts will have on family caregivers in San Diego County.

Instructions to submit your message to the County of San Diego

San Diego County’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS) has excluded the unmet mental health needs of adult and older adult unpaid family caregivers as a priority population under our local Behavior Health Support Services (BHSS). The County must prioritize the mental health needs of family caregivers to avoid the risk of depression, isolation, substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness and institutionalization for older adults.

Urge the County of San Diego to restore funding for SCRC’s Caregiver Support Services program as an Early Intervention resource within the new Behavioral Health Support Services plan by following the steps below:

1. Click on this link to access County of San Diego website:

BHSA Online Input Form

2. Under the section - What about BHSA would you like to provide input on? Select both:

Behavioral Health Services and Supports (BHSS) component
BHSS: Early Intervention

3. Under the section - Behavioral Health Services and Supports (BHSS) - Copy and paste the message below into the comment box:

Family caregivers often experience significant impairment and distress due to the demands of caregiving, including moderate to severe depression, adjustment disorders, or generalized anxiety disorders. All are considered mental health disorders under the W&I Code section 14184.402, subdivision (c) and implemented in DHCS guidance [13], AND should be included as a priority population in the County Integrated Plan (IP).

SCRC data demonstrates that 73% of the families we serve assist with more than 10+ care activities for their loved ones, 83% perform medical or nursing care at home, 73% provide 40+ hours of unpaid care per week, 32% report their health has declined in past 6 months, 20% report clinically significant loneliness and isolation, 62% experience high level caregiver strain, and 56% experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Furthermore, multiple studies have demonstrated that the more severe the case of dementia, such as that caused by Alzheimer’s disease, the more likely the caregiver is to experience depression. Researchers have found that one in four people who provide care for a family member with dementia have contemplated suicide more than once in the last year.

That is why Southern Caregiver Resource Center (SCRC), a 501c3 founded in 1987, has developed programs to address these vital needs. Under the Caregiver Support Services (CSS) Contract (# 568046) the CALMA (Cuidadores Acompañándose y Luchando para Mejorar y Seguir Adelante) and Caregiver Thrive, Learn, Connect (CG TLC) programs demonstrate significant improvements in caregivers’ overall quality of life, including decreases in depressive symptoms, reduction in feelings of anger, lower rates of burden and stress, improved skill building and behavior management, and delays in institutionalization.

These two proven and powerful locally attuned evidence-based interventions are the ONLY two offered in San Diego County that addresses the serious unmet mental health needs of adult and older adult family caregivers under BHS. Nevertheless, BHS will sunset the CSS program effective June 30, 2026.

Don’t let that happen!

1. I ask that the County of San Diego recognize that the caregiver experience often includes significant impairment and distress due to the demands of caregiving, including moderate to severe depression, adjustment disorders, or generalized anxiety disorders. All are mental health disorders included under the W&I Code section 14184.402, subdivision (c) and implemented in DHCS guidance [13].

2. I ask that the County of Diego include the unmet mental health needs of adult and older adult family caregivers as a “specialty mental health” priority population in the County Integrated Plan (IP).

3. I ask that the County of San Diego incorporate evidence-based programs designed to keep unpaid family caregivers of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders a priority under in the County’s BHSS plan.

4. I ask that the County of San Diego restore funding for SCRC’s Caregiver Support Services program (contract 568046) as an Early Intervention program under the new County IP for Behavior Health Support Services (BHSS).

Thank you.

4. Under the section - Early Intervention - Copy and paste the message below into the comment box:

Don’t let that happen!

Thank you.

5. Under - Which of the following best describes you and/or agency: