Breaking the Cycle: Trauma-Informed Mental Health Care & Community Impact | Anew Ep 56

How can we truly break the cycle of trauma and create lasting change in mental health care? In this powerful episode of the ANEW Body Insight Podcast, Dr. Supatra Tovar sits down with Charlene Dimas-Peinado, President & CEO of Wellnest and Chair of City Club Los Angeles, to explore how trauma-informed care, community partnerships, and mental health advocacy can transform lives.

Charlene has spent over 30 years championing youth mental health, social services, and trauma recovery programs. Her mission? To make mental health services accessible, affordable, and culturally competent for underserved communities. From school-based therapy to intergenerational trauma healing, this episode covers practical strategies, success stories, and expert insights to improve mental health on a personal and systemic level.

🎙️ In This Episode, We Cover:

✔️ Why trauma-informed care is essential for long-term healing
 ✔️ How intergenerational trauma affects mental health across generations
 ✔️ The critical role of school-based mental health services
 ✔️ How social determinants of health impact therapy access
 ✔️ The rise of anxiety, depression, and suicide rates in youth
 ✔️ How to break mental health stigma in diverse communities
 ✔️ The importance of early childhood intervention in mental health
 ✔️ How food, nutrition, and exercise influence mental well-being
 ✔️ The power of community partnerships in mental health services
 ✔️ How City Club Los Angeles fosters cross-sector collaboration
 ✔️ Charlene’s leadership strategies for balancing nonprofit work, advocacy, and business

Charlene also shares real-world solutions for reducing burnout in mental health professionals, advocating for policy change, and creating lasting community impact.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe to the ANEW Body Insight Podcast:

🔗 Watch the full episode now! Link in bio
 🎙️ Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts & More!
 🔔 Subscribe to ANEW Insight for more expert interviews on mental health, wellness, nutrition, and holistic well-being!

🚀 Transform Your Relationship with Food & Body Image:

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 📍 Enroll in Dr. Supatra Tovar’s course: "Deprogram Diet Culture"
 🌐 Start your journey at anew-insight.com today!

For more information aboutCharlene Dimas-Peinado  here are her Social Media links:   https://www.wellnestla.org/about/leadership/charlene-dimas-peinado/,  https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlene-dimas-peinado-3a955312 , https://www.facebook.com/charlene.dimaspeinado/ 

🌟 Co

Thank you for joining us on this journey to wellness. Remember, the insights and advice shared on the ANEW Body Insight Podcast are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine. To learn more about the podcast and stay updated on new episodes, visit ANEW Body Insight Podcast at anew-insight.com. To watch this episode on YouTube, visit @my.anew.insight. Follow us on social media at @my.anew.insight on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads for more updates and insights. Thank you for tuning in! Stay connected with us for more empowering stories and expert guidance. Until next time, stay well and keep evolving with ANEW Body Insight!

Transcript

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Welcome
to the ANEW Body Insight podcast,


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empowering and inspiring your journey to optimal health.


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Hosted by Dr. Supatra Tovar, clinical psychologist,


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registered dietitian, fitness expert, and author of Deprogram Diet Culture:


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Rethink Your Relationship with Food, Heal Your Mind, and Live a Diet-Free


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Life, and Chantal Donnelly, physical therapist and author of Settled:


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How to Find Calm in a Stress Inducing World.


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Here at City Club Los Angeles, we follow our guests journey to optimal


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health, providing you with the keys to unlock your own wellness path.


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Tune in and evolve with us.


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Welcome
back to the ANEW Body Insight podcast.


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We are back for the second half
of our episode with Wellnest President


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and CEO and Chair of City Club, Charlene


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Dimas Peinado, at City Club Los Angeles.


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Welcome back. (clapping) Thank you. Thank you Dr Tovar.


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Charlene gave us some


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really insightful background
on her inspiration to become a leader


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in the mental health field,
and we are very excited to learn


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some more. So Charlene,


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can you please tell us about the
significance of community partnerships?


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You mentioned it a little bit in the last,
episode, the last part.


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But how has that enhanced
and advanced the Wellnest mission,


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and enhanced your service delivery?


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Who do you partner with and tell us more?


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Yeah, it's an excellent question.


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So those partnerships are so critical,
to us and others.


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So for example,
we partner with, with the L.A.


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Unified School District
as we're here in Los Angeles


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In providing school
based mental health services.


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We're currently in
approximately 30 schools


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where our staff
go out into the schools


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and work with school staff to identify
children and families that need


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mental health services and provide
those services there where they need them.


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We also partner with, FQHC’s,
federally qualified health care centers,


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because they're in the community providing
the health


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care needs to our children and families.


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And it's not uncommon that they will,


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see that there's a mental health issue
at the core of the health


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care, reason that the family may
have come in for services


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and they will often, refer to us, and,
and it works very well.


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It's a warm handoff to us.


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So we also partner with health
care providers in the community to, again,


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ensure that they know how to,
that we're in the community.


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We can provide that support.


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We partner
with other social service agencies.


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It could be for food, it could be
for housing, it could be for essentials.


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You know, we work with babies and families
and oftentimes


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they may need access
to diapers or, formula.


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And so we have


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a community center where families
can come into our agency and,


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and have access to clothing
or any of those items that they may need.


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Although our core services is trauma
informed services.


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Again, families may need more than that.


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It's it's a way for us to,


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work cross-collaboratively,


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leverage resources for each other.


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And we even partner in looking
for new funding together to advocate


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and educate so that this is why
that those partnerships are so important.


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Yes. I used to do, work in the LA, 
Unified School


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District from my, internship
that I mentioned before.


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And I think
that is so incredibly valuable,


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you know, helping to identify the kids
that really,


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you know, they're always labeled
as the troubled kid or the bad kid.


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And I really never like to hear that,
because you really know that that's


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happening at a systemic level.


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There may be issues in the home.


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There may be issues with food security
or insecurity.


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You know, there's so many issues.


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And so getting really into the school
districts, but also in these community


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organizations and, and I think it is
it is a cross collaboration effort


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to try to help them on all, all efforts.


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Absolutely, and for children, they spend the majority
of their time in schools, right?


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Yes, long days.


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And so often times it's the teachers
or the counselors that may see


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that they're already presenting with, a behavioral or some symptoms


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that is impacting their ability
to benefit from that educational setting.


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Now, keep in mind that many children


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are experiencing a


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treatable mental health issue 


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or concern. Yes, absolutely.


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So the sooner we identify that issue,


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and the sooner we intervene the greater
long term positive impact we can have.


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So that you can see why that cross-collaboration
is so important


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in identifying those situations


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and then bringing in partners
so that we can help each other.


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Yes. In that work together.


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Tell me just a little bit
more about the work that you do


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for the families, for the parents,


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on an individual level,
I know you provide the family services.


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Give me a picture of the services
you provide to adults.


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So as I mentioned, our
our focus, are children,


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that they're the identified client,
but we work with the parents


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in the context of the child.


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So if we're noticing that the parent


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may be experiencing
a mental health issue as well,


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that were able to also serve that parent,
that's great.


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So say for example, you have a mother.


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You know, we


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I mentioned earlier, we start serving
children the moment they're born.


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Zero to five is also very critical


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and very vulnerable stage of development.


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From age zero to five a lot happens. Right?


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Attachment has to occur at birth. Yep.


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The brain is growing the fastest
from zero to three.


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And that, eagle formation is occurring.


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Yeah. In early childhood.


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And parents
play a very important role in that.


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So what we're also doing
is we're assessing the health


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and mental health of the parent
or the caretakers.


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Sometimes it can be a grandparent,
sometimes it could be extended


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family members that have become the family
or the caretakers of our children.


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So we're also assessing,


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doing a psychosocial, assessment
on the caretakers in the family system


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and then determining are they able


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to keep that child
safe, nurture love, and continue


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to provide the support
and resources that that child may need.


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If they're not able to, then we're looking


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at also intervening,
providing services directly ourselves


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or referring them
to an appropriate agency that is more,


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relevant to whatever their need may be.


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So we're also serving that family
in that way.


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Again, connecting them. Linkage. Yes.


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to other viable resources.


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That is going to help them again
to create a healthy family environment


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for the child.


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I'm curious what you do for adults


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who may have still that kind
of stigma against mental health.


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How do you help them embrace treatment
if they've been told you're weak


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if you go and get mental health treatment,
there's something wrong with you.


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You don't need it.


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How do you bridge that gap?


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By having that conversation.


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And exploring,


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you know,
how are they feeling about being there. Now,


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our staff are also trained and building
trust


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and helping families to feel comfortable
and and empowering them


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to help empower families to come in
and feel good about that experience.


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They're going to have.


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And we want our, our,


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our clients to come in and know
that we're not there to judge them.


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It's a strength based approach.


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We believe that all children, all
individuals, all families have strengths.


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And we're going to focus
on those strengths first. Yes.


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Because when families know
that that's what you're doing,


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they're going to let their guard down
and they're going to allow themselves


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to engage in that therapeutic,


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partnership and experience. Yes.


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So they play a very important role
in that success.


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Now, one of the things we do see
and in our communities


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is that generational trauma. Yes.


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That often parents come in and, as you
know, will displace onto their children.


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So our staff are also trained
and recognizing generational trauma


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and address generational trauma
with those caretakers and adults.


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That's beautiful.


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Well I want to pivot.


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Now we've talked a lot about Wellnest,
but you are


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also the Chair of the board of governors
here at City Club.


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For those of you who don't know, City Club
is this beautiful,


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business and networking club.


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And it has this amazing, history


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in, inclusivity and diversity.


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So just tell us about that.


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Tell us about becoming the Chair
and how do you balance everything?


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You're on three of three boards. Three?


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Is that correct?


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Three boards along with being
the president CEO, how do you do it all?


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Lay it on us.


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So when I was you know,
I've been a member here at the club


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for 15 years and I have always enjoyed
the interaction and the environment.


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I, very much appreciate its legacy


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and history, of


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being an inclusive club.


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And, I absolutely,


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embrace the importance of business,


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civic and nonprofits coming together


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to solve community issues collectively.


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And I that's
what happens here at this club.


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And, and that's just another example
of cross-sector collaboration.


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So that was the draw
that now, you know, again the legacy,


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the history, but that cross-collaboration
that occurs right here at this club.


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And if you think about it,
when you're, leading an organization,


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you want to build those relationships.


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I'm also cultivating, you know, donors,


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that want to learn
and want to have an impact somewhere


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and where mental health resonates
with them


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for whatever reason.


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As well as future board members.


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Future staff, our workforce development. Yes.


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And you know, we're a business.
We do business.


00:11:06:14 - 00:11:11:17
We, you know, are looking for the best,
health care plans for our staff.


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We're looking for the best technology and
innovation to bring to the organization.


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So you can see how we're also,
you know, engaging to do business and


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bring the best of the best that is here,
that exists right here at this business club.


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Yes. I have had the same experience.


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I've obviously met
you, yes, yes, been blown away by your history


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and background, but others Yeng 
Wang is in the the audience right now.


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She was on our podcast as well.


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Incredible Reiki master.


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I've met so many amazing people here,
and so I think that there's


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just so much to be gained
just by being social.


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I think the pandemic kind of beat
the social out of us for a while,


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and we're all started crawling out of our,
you know,


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little homes and coming back into society.


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And I think that there's so much to be
gained by just, you know, collaborating,


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being social with each other,
learning more about, each other.


00:12:08:10 - 00:12:14:03
So give me some ideas
of how you are leading City Club.


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What is your goal
and mission for your governorship?


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So you're aware that I have
an executive board of governors


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as the chairs of all the committees,
and we have a new,


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you know, dynamic visionary. Monique.


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Domingues, that’s


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just joined us as a general manager and


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all of the chairs, together
with the staff, we're working collectively


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to, again, ensure that we are the premier
business club here in Los Angeles,


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that we are hub where people can come
and benefit for whatever reason.


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They're looking for.


00:12:51:21 - 00:12:54:13
And that is
this is a place that you can be.


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We're looking to, lift you,
whatever that may be.


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And if you're wanting to promote
your business, meet other like minded


00:13:03:10 - 00:13:07:01
professionals,
develop your business acumen.


00:13:08:00 - 00:13:09:14
You know, AI is very new.


00:13:09:14 - 00:13:13:08
We've had some amazing presentation
by subject matter experts,


00:13:13:21 - 00:13:17:05
but also coming together and looking at


00:13:17:19 - 00:13:23:02
as a city of L.A.,
how do we also have impact?


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How we come together in our civic duties,
and supporting each other?


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How do we ensure
that we continue to be inclusive,


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and that we are
that we look like L.A., as a leadership.


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And that we're also creating
a pipeline of future leaders.


00:13:40:20 - 00:13:45:11
Yes, that are going
to, succeed the staff in those positions,


00:13:45:16 - 00:13:50:04
succeed me, as well as all the chairs
of the committee of the committees.


00:13:50:04 - 00:13:50:18
Yeah.


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So those are just some of the
areas that we're working on.


00:13:54:14 - 00:13:56:18
Is, continuing to


00:13:56:18 - 00:14:00:20
be viewed and experience
as a premier business club.


00:14:01:04 - 00:14:05:01
And what I'd like to add to that is,
I think when you compare


00:14:05:07 - 00:14:08:07
business clubs around Los Angeles,


00:14:08:16 - 00:14:13:13
I think City Club does an amazing job
of getting out into the community


00:14:13:18 - 00:14:18:14
and giving back to the community.
Give the listeners a little example


00:14:18:14 - 00:14:23:06
of some of the activities that have been,
put forth in the community


00:14:23:06 - 00:14:24:17
so far this year. Absolutely.


00:14:24:17 - 00:14:27:20
So we've gone out to the food bank,
to package


00:14:27:20 - 00:14:31:10
food for, to address,
you know, hunger in our communities.


00:14:31:20 - 00:14:35:00
We participated at the Edelman
Children's Court.


00:14:35:01 - 00:14:40:00
These are children that are, 
going from foster care to being adopted.


00:14:40:00 - 00:14:44:04
So we go and we it's a very important day,
and we go, and we,


00:14:44:11 - 00:14:47:04
participate in that event.


00:14:47:04 - 00:14:48:16
We also participate,


00:14:48:16 - 00:14:51:16
and we recently raised money
through our golf committee,


00:14:51:19 - 00:14:56:06
to, help support young,


00:14:56:06 - 00:15:01:04
future golfers to participate
and get training without the cost.


00:15:01:04 - 00:15:04:13
And these are, 
young people that, you know, it's a sport,


00:15:04:13 - 00:15:07:03
and it's a great way to engage them in
something positive.


00:15:07:03 - 00:15:11:15
We also did an event where we partnered
with all the universities


00:15:12:00 - 00:15:17:07
to bring, young students
and graduates to engage with us


00:15:17:07 - 00:15:21:16
that, are looking for people to join us
in workforce development.


00:15:21:16 - 00:15:25:22
Great. Or also to be role models
to them, to be mentors to them.


00:15:26:00 - 00:15:32:07
As it relates to, how do you go into
psychology or health care or technology.


00:15:32:13 - 00:15:35:13
We partnered them with many of the,
business


00:15:35:13 - 00:15:39:08
leaders here to be those mentors,
to be those role models for them.


00:15:39:13 - 00:15:42:04
Those are a few examples of some activities


00:15:42:04 - 00:15:45:04
that we've been involved in
in the community and planning to do more.


00:15:45:09 - 00:15:45:23
Oh, yes.


00:15:45:23 - 00:15:48:18
And I just think that there's
so much happening here.


00:15:48:18 - 00:15:50:17
It's really wonderful.


00:15:50:17 - 00:15:53:04
Back to mental health services.


00:15:53:04 - 00:15:57:13
You know, what initiatives
are you currently spearheading


00:15:57:18 - 00:16:01:07
to expand access
to mental health services in Los Angeles?


00:16:01:08 - 00:16:04:10
So an area that we are


00:16:04:10 - 00:16:07:10
looking to, really build on


00:16:07:19 - 00:16:12:15
is continue to help inform
and educate our legislators.


00:16:13:23 - 00:16:14:17
So, so


00:16:14:17 - 00:16:17:19
that we can, impact them
and inform policy.


00:16:17:19 - 00:16:19:02
Yes. Okay.


00:16:19:02 - 00:16:23:21
So we are out there, you know,
we're involved in many associations


00:16:24:05 - 00:16:27:04
locally and the city of L.A.,


00:16:27:04 - 00:16:30:04
statewide and nationally.


00:16:30:04 - 00:16:33:23
And you know, one of the reasons
why I participate in the LA Chamber,


00:16:33:23 - 00:16:37:12
we go to Access DC to speak
at the national level.


00:16:37:12 - 00:16:41:13
To our elected’s, to talk about what
the needs in the community are.


00:16:41:22 - 00:16:45:03
Such as childhood poverty, the lack of,


00:16:45:03 - 00:16:49:05
affordable child care for women, issues
that women


00:16:49:05 - 00:16:53:09
experience, health care, mental
health, housing, all of those areas.


00:16:53:09 - 00:16:56:17
We go and have a, talk about that
at a national level.


00:16:56:17 - 00:16:58:12
The LA Chamber.


00:16:58:12 - 00:17:01:00
Excuse me. The LA Chamber also has Access


00:17:01:00 - 00:17:01:22
Sacramento.


00:17:01:22 - 00:17:04:16
Where we do that at the state level.


00:17:04:16 - 00:17:07:17
And I mentioned trade associations
that we’re involved in while


00:17:07:17 - 00:17:11:15
this is very involved at the local, state
and national level, again,


00:17:12:10 - 00:17:16:05
education informing our legislators,
partnering with them


00:17:16:14 - 00:17:20:08
this evening, I am going to go
have dinner with Mayor Karen Bass.


00:17:20:11 - 00:17:23:14
Hey, talk about the issues
here in the city of L.A.


00:17:24:01 - 00:17:26:14
and hopefully as a provider,


00:17:26:14 - 00:17:29:16
you know, share
the experiences that we're having in L.A.


00:17:30:03 - 00:17:33:08
because I always say, if you really want
to understand the issues,


00:17:33:17 - 00:17:36:13
talk to the people closest to the problem.


00:17:36:13 - 00:17:38:21
Absolutely. Yes.


00:17:38:21 - 00:17:42:09
I always say our staff are out there
doing the work where it matters the most.


00:17:42:23 - 00:17:44:15
They’re on the front line, they're in the trenches.


00:17:44:15 - 00:17:49:05
Yes. Well, we need to collaborate more
on that because, we actually have heard


00:17:49:05 - 00:17:54:06
Deputy Mayor Doctor Agonafer, she's
going to be honored here at City Club.


00:17:54:13 - 00:17:56:03
She's one of our unstoppable women.


00:17:56:03 - 00:17:59:11
And I met her through Los Angeles
County Psych Association.


00:17:59:21 - 00:18:02:02
And we want to work on her,


00:18:02:02 - 00:18:05:20
you know, we formed a task force
within the association


00:18:05:20 - 00:18:09:00
and really want to work, 
with her on Inside Safe.


00:18:09:09 - 00:18:12:16
So I see some collaboration between us


00:18:12:16 - 00:18:16:06
happening in the future, too,
which would be amazing. Absolutely.


00:18:16:06 - 00:18:18:22
And just tell us,
how did you get involved with the Chamber?


00:18:18:22 - 00:18:21:06
She's invited me to one of the meetings.


00:18:21:06 - 00:18:23:09
I'm so excited about it. But.


00:18:23:09 - 00:18:25:19
And so that's going to be
how I got involved with it.


00:18:25:19 - 00:18:28:02
But please tell me
how you got involved with it.


00:18:28:02 - 00:18:29:16
Again, just that partnership.


00:18:29:16 - 00:18:33:10
We cannot be successful if we're in silos.


00:18:34:04 - 00:18:34:23
And and I


00:18:34:23 - 00:18:39:11
just saw the value and participating
in the Chamber and just got in there


00:18:39:11 - 00:18:43:23
and got involved and have been active
for all the reasons we've talked about.


00:18:43:23 - 00:18:44:18
Yeah.


00:18:44:18 - 00:18:48:03
You know the Chamber plays
a prominent role here and the Chamber


00:18:48:03 - 00:18:51:03
has a mission to also have an impact


00:18:51:12 - 00:18:54:01
in the community, children and families.


00:18:54:01 - 00:18:56:22
They're the future of this city. Yes.


00:18:56:22 - 00:19:01:01
And we want to ensure that they, again,
have all those resources in


00:19:01:01 - 00:19:04:16
LA Chamber is just outstanding
and doing that kind of work.


00:19:04:19 - 00:19:05:15
I can't wait.


00:19:05:15 - 00:19:06:17
They bring corporate together.


00:19:06:17 - 00:19:11:03
They bring small businesses
together. Women who are entrepreneurs,


00:19:11:12 - 00:19:16:11
such as yourself. We come together
at nonprofits, and they're just great at,


00:19:16:18 - 00:19:22:08
helping us to, again, leverage partner
and, bring those resources together.


00:19:22:08 - 00:19:25:04
There's more power in numbers, right? Yes.


00:19:25:04 - 00:19:29:17
So when you ask what you know,
what's in the future is, again building


00:19:29:17 - 00:19:35:09
doing more of that, being more active,
you know, with our legislators.


00:19:35:09 - 00:19:38:14
Continuing to expand school
based mental health services.


00:19:39:16 - 00:19:42:14
Although, you know, trauma, mental health


00:19:42:14 - 00:19:45:14
is our core services,
continuing to grow those services,


00:19:45:17 - 00:19:51:15
for all children, regardless of their
income level. As well as, we’re housing


00:19:51:15 - 00:19:55:17
transition age youth, these are young
people emancipating from foster care.


00:19:55:18 - 00:19:59:01
And what we say our philosophy is that


00:19:59:01 - 00:20:02:03
we're housing promise
because we believe their promise.


00:20:02:03 - 00:20:05:13
They're not underserved
or underrepresented or marginalized.


00:20:05:23 - 00:20:07:21
They're young people with promise.


00:20:07:21 - 00:20:11:02
And so again, how do we continue


00:20:11:02 - 00:20:15:11
to bring critically needed services
to this population.


00:20:15:11 - 00:20:17:04
Because they are our future.


00:20:17:04 - 00:20:19:14
And we need to remember that


00:20:19:14 - 00:20:23:10
they're the generation
that needs our support now more than ever.


00:20:23:11 - 00:20:26:11
Yeah. So continuing to grow those services.


00:20:26:16 - 00:20:29:16
And then early intervention
and prevention critical.


00:20:29:16 - 00:20:34:23
Now right now funding issues
leave for when the diagnostic


00:20:35:10 - 00:20:38:10
has already
the diagnosis has already been established


00:20:38:11 - 00:20:42:04
or a child is in crisis
or they're being hospitalized.


00:20:42:04 - 00:20:45:01
We need to even think differently. Yeah.


00:20:45:01 - 00:20:49:05
We need to come in earlier and intervene
to do more early intervention


00:20:49:05 - 00:20:53:01
and prevention
to prevent these crisis situations.


00:20:53:02 - 00:20:54:01
Absolutely.


00:20:54:01 - 00:20:59:03
And the more we invest, there
will be more cost savings in the long run.


00:20:59:03 - 00:21:04:01
Totally. I used to do, community
health education,


00:21:04:19 - 00:21:08:08
for children who were kind of
on the cusp of, you know,


00:21:08:08 - 00:21:13:00
becoming overweight or obese, yes, and really
helping them with dietary education.


00:21:13:00 - 00:21:18:03
I think early intervention is so powerful
because it not only affects


00:21:18:03 - 00:21:22:19
that generation, but it will affect
the next generation after them.


00:21:23:08 - 00:21:26:20
You are the embodiment of it
takes, of it takes a village.


00:21:27:05 - 00:21:32:11
You really are you you have such a far
reach in this community,


00:21:32:19 - 00:21:37:18
and I think you're just such a blessing
to mental health services,


00:21:37:18 - 00:21:41:02
but also just to community
and community building.


00:21:41:02 - 00:21:43:16
And so we're just so lucky
and blessed to have you.


00:21:43:16 - 00:21:47:09
We're going to open up, 
some for some questions from the audience.


00:21:47:09 - 00:21:50:17
But but first,
how do people get in touch with you?


00:21:51:00 - 00:21:53:16
How do they collaborate with you?


00:21:53:16 - 00:21:57:05
Give us some, 
some idea of how to to get ahold of you.


00:21:57:20 - 00:21:59:17
I love it
when people reach out to me, by the way,


00:21:59:17 - 00:22:02:10
so you you can reach out to me,
through LinkedIn.


00:22:02:10 - 00:22:02:23
It's not uncommon.


00:22:02:23 - 00:22:05:15
People reach out to me through LinkedIn.


00:22:05:15 - 00:22:11:13
You know, social media, you can access me
also at through our website at Wellnest.


00:22:11:13 - 00:22:14:01
I'm here at the club all the time.


00:22:14:01 - 00:22:16:20
And I'm happy to have lunch


00:22:16:20 - 00:22:19:20
or dinner and just,
I love to get to know you.


00:22:20:01 - 00:22:22:11
I love for you to get to know,
you know, what we're doing.


00:22:22:11 - 00:22:25:12
And then I'm always kind of looking at,
hey, how can we support each other?


00:22:25:12 - 00:22:29:22
You know, how do we, you know,
work for the greater good? I love it.


00:22:29:23 - 00:22:31:02
Yeah I love it.


00:22:31:02 - 00:22:33:12
She is such a force of nature.


00:22:34:14 - 00:22:36:04
Questions from the audience.


00:22:36:04 - 00:22:39:09
I know that there's going to be questions
and people are eager. Yes.


00:22:39:09 - 00:22:40:19
Come to the mic.


00:22:41:12 - 00:22:44:23
Hello. So I was
wondering, with your organization,


00:22:44:23 - 00:22:48:06
what happens after the kids are adults?


00:22:49:09 - 00:22:53:11
So as I mentioned, once they turn, 24,


00:22:53:19 - 00:22:57:03
they, we, they are transitioned out.


00:22:57:15 - 00:23:02:08
The idea is that we're able to, meet
all of their treatment goals


00:23:02:08 - 00:23:05:20
and objectives so that they're at a point
where they can bring


00:23:05:20 - 00:23:09:05
we can bring closure, 
and that they're ready to move on.


00:23:09:16 - 00:23:13:10
But it's not uncommon
that they may have more long term issues.


00:23:13:19 - 00:23:16:20
And so we would connect them
with an adult agency.


00:23:17:15 - 00:23:22:23
So for example,
they may have, a need for medication,


00:23:22:23 - 00:23:28:02
where it's long term, they may have, more
severe diagnosis, such as bipolar,


00:23:28:02 - 00:23:32:07
schizophrenia, where they may need
ongoing support by a psychiatrist.


00:23:32:14 - 00:23:33:21
So then we would again


00:23:33:21 - 00:23:38:02
link them to a, psychiatrist
that can see them on a long term basis.


00:23:38:02 - 00:23:38:13
Great.


00:23:41:00 - 00:23:42:02
Hi. My name is Stacey.


00:23:42:02 - 00:23:44:23
And thank you both. So informative.


00:23:44:23 - 00:23:45:21
In the firs section


00:23:45:21 - 00:23:50:04
you spoke about three issues
that you're seeing more today.


00:23:50:05 - 00:23:53:05
And it was anxiety, depression
and suicide.


00:23:54:04 - 00:23:56:11
You know, we know through evidence


00:23:56:11 - 00:23:59:11
that nutrition plays a role in anxiety.


00:24:00:06 - 00:24:01:14
And also depression.


00:24:01:14 - 00:24:05:17
So I was wondering how you address
or support that physical


00:24:05:17 - 00:24:08:19
aspect through diet and exercise?


00:24:08:19 - 00:24:11:04
And this is kind of a question
for both of you.


00:24:11:04 - 00:24:13:07
Because you’re going have that nutritional background.


00:24:13:07 - 00:24:14:12
So I was just wondering


00:24:14:12 - 00:24:18:00
just maybe a few examples
of how you incorporate that support,


00:24:18:09 - 00:24:21:12
because I know, you know,
we know that if you're healthy,


00:24:21:12 - 00:24:23:11
it can really help
with behavioral issues and


00:24:23:11 - 00:24:25:18
mental health issues. Yes.


00:24:25:18 - 00:24:26:11
Absolutely.


00:24:26:11 - 00:24:30:03
So, in addition,
you know, our staff will see a,


00:24:30:21 - 00:24:34:23
we take a multidisciplinary approach
to serving our children and families.


00:24:35:06 - 00:24:38:19
So it will include a psychotherapist,
case manager, sometimes a psychologist,


00:24:38:19 - 00:24:40:03
sometimes a psychiatrist.


00:24:40:03 - 00:24:42:19
We also have parent partners.


00:24:42:19 - 00:24:45:16
And all of them
collectively as I mentioned,


00:24:45:16 - 00:24:48:17
they look at the environment,
they look at the whole person care.


00:24:49:04 - 00:24:52:12
And so they're also
not only connecting them to all the


00:24:52:12 - 00:24:54:16
viable resources that they need,


00:24:54:16 - 00:24:58:15
but they're also ensuring
that they have access to healthy food.


00:24:58:22 - 00:25:02:01
We it's not uncommon
where our staff will go into the home


00:25:02:01 - 00:25:05:20
and demonstrate,
how do you buy healthy food items. Yes.


00:25:05:23 - 00:25:09:19
How do you cook healthy nutritional food
for your children?


00:25:10:04 - 00:25:14:07
From we have our experts in zero to five
where they're working with the moms


00:25:14:07 - 00:25:16:02
and the baby. What is healthy nutrition?


00:25:16:02 - 00:25:20:07
How do you, select foods
that are good for brain development?


00:25:21:02 - 00:25:23:15
So a lot of educating,
coaching and mentoring.


00:25:23:15 - 00:25:26:16
Breastfeeding is a big one
that we do as well.


00:25:27:03 - 00:25:28:10
Same with our teenagers.


00:25:28:10 - 00:25:31:10
All age groups is, looking to


00:25:31:23 - 00:25:36:00
educate, ensure they have those resources
are connecting them as well.


00:25:36:05 - 00:25:37:13
And then exercise.


00:25:37:13 - 00:25:38:23
We talk about exercise.


00:25:38:23 - 00:25:41:16
We talk about them,
you know, not spending too much time


00:25:41:16 - 00:25:45:15
in front of the television
or on their computers, but going out


00:25:45:15 - 00:25:50:16
and physical movement, walking, running,
engaging and sports activities.


00:25:50:16 - 00:25:55:00
And if families are not able to afford
sports because they're expensive,


00:25:55:08 - 00:25:59:05
we can support them in that to help
their kids get involved in baseball,


00:25:59:05 - 00:26:00:11
basketball, soccer.


00:26:01:10 - 00:26:02:08
And then


00:26:02:08 - 00:26:05:23
also as well as mothers
getting involved and,


00:26:05:23 - 00:26:09:05
you know, getting connected with the
Y. With the Boys and Girls Club.


00:26:09:05 - 00:26:12:18
Those are associations where, again,
they will have access to,


00:26:13:08 - 00:26:18:04
opportunities for physical activities
and then access to healthy food.


00:26:18:09 - 00:26:23:07
So those are just some examples, as,
as it relates to whole person care. Yes.


00:26:23:13 - 00:26:27:08
And I’ll agree,
I when I was doing my community education


00:26:27:08 - 00:26:32:01
class, my favorite part was taking
everybody to the grocery store


00:26:32:10 - 00:26:35:09
because there's so many misconceptions.


00:26:35:09 - 00:26:39:17
People don't really understand
unit pricing, which I think was really,


00:26:39:17 - 00:26:44:09
informative to, the, the,
the people in my class


00:26:44:16 - 00:26:47:18
in that they thought,
okay, well, this is this price.


00:26:47:18 - 00:26:50:18
So I know that it's going to be cheaper
for me.


00:26:50:21 - 00:26:54:07
And I would teach them
about the nutritional content of food


00:26:54:13 - 00:26:57:16
and how to find the best deals
for their money,


00:26:57:16 - 00:27:01:04
and increasing their nutrition as well.


00:27:01:04 - 00:27:04:08
So I think it's so important
that we're out there educating,


00:27:04:23 - 00:27:08:07
in the grocery store,
in the home with cooking


00:27:08:12 - 00:27:12:02
and how we can do this
affordably, is really important.


00:27:12:17 - 00:27:15:15
And and go ahead, like with our mothers,
with the babies.


00:27:15:15 - 00:27:20:05
You know, we connect them with WIC,
so they have access to those nutritious food.


00:27:20:15 - 00:27:22:14
Mothers markets. Okay.


00:27:22:14 - 00:27:25:14
And then again starting early about


00:27:26:01 - 00:27:30:00
selecting good foods
for their babies early on. Yes.


00:27:30:00 - 00:27:34:21
And that the high sugar content foods
that are common or fast food. Yes.


00:27:34:21 - 00:27:35:20
Because they are so unhealthy.


00:27:35:20 - 00:27:37:00
Yeah. It's so interesting.


00:27:37:00 - 00:27:41:18
When I was, interviewing
for my clinical psychology program,


00:27:42:05 - 00:27:46:07
I was coming from dietetics,
and the person interviewing me asks,


00:27:46:14 - 00:27:49:09
why are you switching careers?


00:27:49:09 - 00:27:52:14
And I was really taken aback by that
because


00:27:52:23 - 00:27:56:00
I said, I'm
absolutely not switching careers.


00:27:56:00 - 00:28:02:11
I'm enhancing my career because now
nutritional psychology is an actual field.


00:28:02:19 - 00:28:06:01
But when I was in school, people didn't


00:28:06:08 - 00:28:11:06
really see the connection
with nutrition and mental health.


00:28:11:06 - 00:28:16:02
And it is a vital part of my practice
and is completely a part of


00:28:16:07 - 00:28:21:08
when a client comes to me, I will assess
what is their nutritional health right now


00:28:21:08 - 00:28:25:02
and how can I enhance that
to enhance their mental health, so.


00:28:25:02 - 00:28:28:00
And one other component too
is green space.


00:28:29:01 - 00:28:33:21
Having our children and families
go out to the parks, to the mountains,


00:28:33:21 - 00:28:38:16
to the ocean, and there's research
that clearly shows that when we're in these


00:28:38:16 - 00:28:43:05
in natural environments,
that helps to stimulate our adrenaline.


00:28:43:05 - 00:28:46:22
To also help us cope with day to day activities.


00:28:46:22 - 00:28:48:03
Yeah. Okay.


00:28:48:03 - 00:28:48:11
Yeah.


00:28:48:11 - 00:28:52:22
And I know that L.A. is, is part, part poor.


00:28:53:11 - 00:28:54:19
But again


00:28:54:19 - 00:28:58:21
we do have areas where you can guide them
and encourage them to go there


00:28:58:21 - 00:29:00:00
and take their children.


00:29:00:00 - 00:29:05:09
Children need to run and they need to,
you know, fall and have fun


00:29:05:16 - 00:29:09:02
and also experience
the natural environment


00:29:09:02 - 00:29:12:03
for that emotional healing
and building resilience.


00:29:12:03 - 00:29:14:21
I love that, I love that.


00:29:14:21 - 00:29:16:21
Yeah. Thank you soo much Charlene,


00:29:16:21 - 00:29:21:14
for this informative session,
I have no idea that you really like


00:29:21:19 - 00:29:25:19
working at the
root of it is to be at the stage of the baby.


00:29:25:22 - 00:29:29:12
Yes, when the baby was born,
which is like amazing


00:29:29:12 - 00:29:32:21
because that's
how we can really get a head. Yes.


00:29:32:21 - 00:29:34:15
Instead of getting into the trauma


00:29:34:15 - 00:29:38:01
of a traumatic stage,
you already kind of preventing it, exactly.


00:29:38:01 - 00:29:40:21
Which is the best approach of everything else, right?


00:29:40:21 - 00:29:44:18
And thanks for leading
all these great questions as well.


00:29:44:18 - 00:29:45:22
So for me is I


00:29:45:22 - 00:29:49:08
noticed that, yes,
because of the Covid and all of that,


00:29:49:22 - 00:29:52:22
the suicide is actually a very,


00:29:53:02 - 00:29:56:19
apparent and, aggravating issues now,


00:29:56:19 - 00:30:00:16
more and more in children,
but also in the health care sector,


00:30:00:16 - 00:30:05:00
because a lot of the health care
workers, due to a lot of the stress,


00:30:05:00 - 00:30:08:18
it has been also been detrimental
for their health as well,


00:30:09:02 - 00:30:14:03
because your team is working so much on
around the clock to help all of these,


00:30:14:19 - 00:30:20:05
young children to really get ahead
and be emotionally stable.


00:30:20:05 - 00:30:22:19
And be part of this,


00:30:22:19 - 00:30:25:21
productive workforce, and for our future,


00:30:25:21 - 00:30:28:20
how do you, kind of,


00:30:29:07 - 00:30:32:08
what are the strategies
that you use to actually


00:30:32:15 - 00:30:35:15
help yourself, but also your staff?


00:30:36:02 - 00:30:39:10
Because sometimes with all the compassion,
like there's so much


00:30:39:10 - 00:30:42:14
that we have to do is challenging
but also rewarding, right?


00:30:42:20 - 00:30:46:11
So what kind of strategies
are you using in order to also


00:30:47:00 - 00:30:50:14
kind of motivate your staff,
and also to keep them


00:30:50:20 - 00:30:54:21
or prevent them from being burnt out
and all of that and beyond?


00:30:54:22 - 00:30:56:08
I would love to hear that.


00:30:56:08 - 00:30:58:00
Thank you. That's a great question.


00:30:58:00 - 00:30:59:04
Because you are absolutely correct.


00:30:59:04 - 00:31:01:08
This is very stressful work,


00:31:01:08 - 00:31:04:11
and it's not uncommon that our staff
will experience secondary trauma.


00:31:05:08 - 00:31:08:01
And, because of that, it is


00:31:08:01 - 00:31:11:01
they also get supervision from our staff,


00:31:11:15 - 00:31:14:23
whenever they're dealing
with some real difficult situations,


00:31:15:07 - 00:31:18:18
they work with their leaders
and also in group sessions


00:31:18:18 - 00:31:23:15
where they're able to process and talk
about how they may be internalizing,


00:31:24:18 - 00:31:27:01
one of the client's trauma. That’s not uncommon.


00:31:27:01 - 00:31:30:10
And it's also not uncommon
that if you have lived experience,


00:31:30:16 - 00:31:34:23
it will exacerbate, 
your own trauma again, where you will,


00:31:35:01 - 00:31:38:15
experience
maybe a trauma from an early situation


00:31:38:21 - 00:31:42:19
where you will start experiencing
re-experiencing your own trauma, as you know. Yes.


00:31:43:03 - 00:31:48:12
So that support and helping to process
is also very important for our staff.


00:31:48:15 - 00:31:52:01
The other thing is
that it's very important for organizations


00:31:52:01 - 00:31:55:01
that do this work that they provide,


00:31:56:11 - 00:31:58:08
excellent work environments.


00:31:58:08 - 00:32:01:08
So organizational excellence
is one of our core values.


00:32:01:18 - 00:32:05:03
And that includes that we're able to offer
competitive salaries,


00:32:05:06 - 00:32:08:06
competitive salaries and benefits.


00:32:08:13 - 00:32:12:16
So when we're talking to our healthcare
vendors, the one thing I say is


00:32:12:20 - 00:32:17:04
I want to make sure we have access
to good mental health services


00:32:17:10 - 00:32:19:08
for our own staff. Yes.


00:32:19:08 - 00:32:23:18
And so that I really highly recommend
that all businesses make sure that


00:32:23:22 - 00:32:25:08
you take care of your staff,


00:32:26:08 - 00:32:27:19
and their children.


00:32:27:19 - 00:32:31:05
And also we, offer
we have human resources,


00:32:31:05 - 00:32:34:05
and they're always making sure
that they're bringing


00:32:34:07 - 00:32:37:14
resources to our staff from we do yoga,


00:32:37:14 - 00:32:42:23
we do,
you know, flu shots, we, do massages.


00:32:42:23 - 00:32:45:23
We really do everything we can
to take care of our employees.


00:32:46:13 - 00:32:50:03
If they need time off,
we try to be very generous with vacation.


00:32:50:03 - 00:32:52:19
We have a mental health day.
During the holidays,


00:32:52:19 - 00:32:54:12
we give them the whole week off.


00:32:54:12 - 00:32:57:08
Does not come out of their vacation
or their paid time off.


00:32:57:08 - 00:33:00:13
So we are very generous
with, vacation time.


00:33:00:21 - 00:33:04:17
And we ask our staff to take vacation,
take care of themselves.


00:33:05:03 - 00:33:09:07
We offer flexibility, especially,
we’re a female dominated profession.


00:33:09:07 - 00:33:12:04
So we want to make sure
we're supportive of our mothers. Yes.


00:33:12:04 - 00:33:15:01
We offer a hybrid
where they, you know, come into the agency


00:33:15:01 - 00:33:17:08
three days a week and work from home two days.


00:33:17:08 - 00:33:19:21
That provides flexibility that they need.


00:33:19:21 - 00:33:21:04
We also do tele-health.


00:33:21:04 - 00:33:23:10
So some of our,
we don't want to lose good therapists


00:33:23:10 - 00:33:26:01
because maybe they have young children
and they work.


00:33:26:01 - 00:33:29:07
They do 100% tele-health
and help us serve our community.


00:33:29:07 - 00:33:31:05
So we've been very creative.


00:33:31:05 - 00:33:34:17
And how do we support our mothers,
our fathers,


00:33:34:23 - 00:33:38:16
who are the therapists and psychologists
and psychiatrists to be able


00:33:38:16 - 00:33:42:08
to provide these services.
So good care of our people.


00:33:42:19 - 00:33:46:06
You talk and I just want to address
the suicide rate.


00:33:47:02 - 00:33:47:18
Is that,


00:33:48:20 - 00:33:50:20
often time


00:33:50:20 - 00:33:54:05
when someone is having suicidal
thoughts or ideations,


00:33:55:03 - 00:33:58:02
they're going to show behaviors.


00:33:58:18 - 00:33:59:19
Or symptoms.


00:33:59:19 - 00:34:02:18
And sometimes they're,
they're keeping it to themselves.


00:34:02:18 - 00:34:05:20
It's really important
that if we observe that


00:34:05:20 - 00:34:10:02
in our family members,
our peers, our colleagues,


00:34:11:20 - 00:34:14:06
is that, we ask.


00:34:14:06 - 00:34:17:14
Yes, I notice,
you know, you're you're quiet.


00:34:17:18 - 00:34:20:05
I notice you're withdrawing.
You're not as involved.


00:34:20:05 - 00:34:21:04
You're not as talkative.


00:34:21:04 - 00:34:26:07
I notice a different person
just asking that opens them up


00:34:26:22 - 00:34:29:22
to maybe say something to you.


00:34:30:07 - 00:34:33:07
And if you can just have
that open conversation


00:34:33:07 - 00:34:37:09
and make it safe for them to know
that you're there to support them,


00:34:37:17 - 00:34:41:10
or just say, look, if there's something
I can do to help you, I'm here.


00:34:42:05 - 00:34:46:17
And let me know how I can help
because often times that could make a huge


00:34:46:17 - 00:34:49:18
difference of someone not having to suffer


00:34:50:11 - 00:34:53:15
in secretly or on their own. Yes,


00:34:54:19 - 00:34:57:11
Yes. And I, I will,


00:34:57:11 - 00:35:01:23
I will add on to that
this is a caretaking business,


00:35:01:23 - 00:35:05:12
just like you are in the business
of taking care of others.


00:35:06:00 - 00:35:09:16
And when we do this,
we have to take care of ourselves first.


00:35:09:22 - 00:35:11:05
And that is not selfish.


00:35:11:05 - 00:35:15:04
I think it's been,
you know, stigmatized in the past


00:35:15:04 - 00:35:18:12
that if you take care of yourself,
then you're being selfish.


00:35:18:12 - 00:35:21:09
And I don't ascribe to that at all.


00:35:21:09 - 00:35:27:05
I encourage my clients to have a very,
you know, important self-care,


00:35:27:12 - 00:35:31:06
regimen for themselves,
whatever that might be,


00:35:31:06 - 00:35:34:10
so that they're able to
then care for everyone else.


00:35:34:18 - 00:35:37:17
And therapists especially need to do this


00:35:37:17 - 00:35:41:16
because we're hearing
some really disturbing, traumatic things.


00:35:41:22 - 00:35:46:06
We need to make sure
that we are putting our self-care,


00:35:46:06 - 00:35:50:06
our mental health first
so that we can take care of them.


00:35:50:19 - 00:35:52:03
Thank you for saying that.


00:35:52:03 - 00:35:53:20
Because we absolutely need to,


00:35:55:09 - 00:35:56:12
take good care of ourselves.


00:35:56:12 - 00:35:59:00
We need to be compassionate
with ourselves.


00:35:59:00 - 00:36:00:19
Yes, and give ourselves grace.


00:36:00:19 - 00:36:02:19
Yes. We don’t always do enough of that. 


00:36:02:19 - 00:36:03:18
And you know, when earlier


00:36:03:18 - 00:36:07:13
you ask, well, how do you, you know,
serve on this isn't this and this is


00:36:07:13 - 00:36:11:16
Is, I have to have compassion for myself
and give myself grace.


00:36:12:03 - 00:36:16:23
And I make sure that, you know,
I'm always out walking, exercising,


00:36:16:23 - 00:36:21:15
eating healthy
and taking that time to just reflect.


00:36:22:02 - 00:36:25:13
I need to take care of myself
so I can be a good leader.


00:36:25:13 - 00:36:28:05
Yes I have and I've talked about this
a million times.


00:36:28:05 - 00:36:31:05
I'm going to say it again
I have militant self-care.


00:36:32:11 - 00:36:33:15
It's mandatory.


00:36:33:15 - 00:36:36:19
I give myself no joke, four hours


00:36:36:19 - 00:36:40:03
of taking care of myself
before I’ll sit down in front of a client.


00:36:40:14 - 00:36:43:11
When I do that, I am present,


00:36:43:11 - 00:36:46:19
I am there, I am engaged, I feel good,


00:36:47:00 - 00:36:50:14
I've worked out,
I've eaten something really healthy.


00:36:50:18 - 00:36:54:04
I've taken my dogs on a walk,
I've given myself a little massage


00:36:54:04 - 00:36:57:16
in my massage chair,
and now I am ready to help you.


00:36:57:21 - 00:37:01:18
And it is what makes I think me be present


00:37:01:18 - 00:37:06:00
and there and be able
to listen and help in the best way. So


00:37:06:00 - 00:37:10:00
And you exude that, you know, wellness.


00:37:10:00 - 00:37:10:12
Oh, right.


00:37:10:12 - 00:37:11:23
And you role model


00:37:11:23 - 00:37:16:19
It to others. Because I think as women
and as mothers and caretakers,


00:37:17:02 - 00:37:20:21
whether we're caring for children
or a loved one or our parents,


00:37:21:09 - 00:37:25:08
we often forget,
yes, take care of ourselves.


00:37:25:11 - 00:37:28:18
Yes. And, and or we feel guilty. Yes.


00:37:28:18 - 00:37:32:19
If we're, you know, wanting
to take that time, we cannot feel guilty.


00:37:33:00 - 00:37:35:08
Yes. Like I said, give yourself grace and compassion.


00:37:35:08 - 00:37:38:19
They say,
put the oxygen mask on yourself first. Exactly.


00:37:38:19 - 00:37:41:18
So you don't pass out
before you can put it on your kid.


00:37:41:20 - 00:37:44:08
So it's really, its a great metaphor, really important.


00:37:44:08 - 00:37:46:00
I love it, I love it.


00:37:46:00 - 00:37:49:02
Oh, Charlene, I could talk to you
forever. Forever.


00:37:49:02 - 00:37:50:12
You are amazing.


00:37:50:12 - 00:37:54:01
You are a force of nature
and we are so lucky


00:37:54:07 - 00:37:58:05
to have you here
as Chair of the City Club Board. But


00:37:59:10 - 00:38:02:10
for everything that you're doing out there
in the community,


00:38:02:14 - 00:38:07:17
it's so inspiring to know
you better after this podcast.


00:38:07:20 - 00:38:11:05
And I know I'll get to know
you even more as we go on,


00:38:11:05 - 00:38:14:13
but I'm sure everybody has gotten
so much out of this.


00:38:14:13 - 00:38:17:13
Thank you all for tuning into the ANEW Body


00:38:17:13 - 00:38:20:13
Insight podcast at City Club Los Angeles.


00:38:20:21 - 00:38:24:04
We're really grateful to Charlene
and we look forward to


00:38:24:04 - 00:38:27:21
our next exciting interview,
and we really hope you join us next time.


00:38:27:21 - 00:38:29:18
Thank you. And thank you.


00:38:29:18 - 00:38:31:18
Thank you Dr Tovar. Thank you so much.


00:38:34:05 - 00:38:37:09
Thanks for tuning into the ANEW Body Insight podcast.


00:38:37:09 - 00:38:40:21
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00:38:40:21 - 00:38:43:22
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00:38:44:08 - 00:38:45:10
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00:38:45:10 - 00:38:49:12
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00:38:49:16 - 00:38:53:22
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00:38:53:22 - 00:38:57:10
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00:39:01:16 - 00:39:04:06
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