Oakland nonprofit outlines culturally grounded refugee and immigrant mental health services to state commission

Representatives from the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (SARE) told the commission on Oct. 2 that culturally grounded, community‑led services are central to reaching refugees and immigrants who often face trauma and barriers to care.

Laura Coelho, SARE’s director of communications and evaluation, and clinical director Kate Wadsworth described services provided in the Bay Area: lay counselors from community backgrounds, monthly pro‑bono psychiatry clinics, culturally specific support groups and arts‑infused programming. "Our staff speak over 25 languages in addition to English, and 90% of our staff identify as refugees or immigrants or children of refugees and immigrants," Coelho said.

Speakers highlighted outreach, know‑your‑rights trainings and a crisis line, and said the organization provides training for clinicians and interpreters to make mental health care more accessible. SARE noted it conducts 12 outreach activities and six training and local advocacy activities per year, and asked the commission to prioritize prevention funding, support for community‑defined evidence practices and technical assistance to help CBOs sustain services.

Commissioners praised SARE’s community model and asked about service uptake amid aggressive immigration enforcement. SARE said it has pivoted to online options and tailored outreach for clients afraid to present in person, but also emphasized the continuing importance of in‑person cultural gatherings that build trust.

SARE closed with a short video from a community leader and asked the commission to support prevention, workforce development and interpreter training so culturally specific programs can be sustained.