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Committee urges 'real community engagement'—meet people where they gather
Summary
Members recommended sustained collaboration with community organizations, culturally specific outreach, and basic in‑person support (copies, faxing) at sites like Health House, rather than one‑off events, to improve access and trust.
Committee members emphasized sustained, place‑based engagement as essential to reaching diverse Merced County communities.
Belle Vallador recommended developing individualized care plans with clear follow‑up and noted that Health House offers free supports such as copies and faxing to help people access services. Alma Pina (chat) urged "Collaboration with Community members, city officials, and other CBOs" as ongoing work rather than a one‑time effort. Marily (Marilyn Mochel) added that real engagement happens where community members regularly gather and recommended building relationships in those spaces.
Members also discussed preparedness planning for immigration concerns and the importance of interpreters and culturally grounded educational analogies for different groups to improve understanding of mental‑health concepts.
