Welcome to the Children, Youth & Family (CYF) Liaison Meetings and Training Information Page. We invite you to learn about upcoming events and ways in which you can participate with NAMI San Diego’s CYF Liaison Team.

Family and community engagement are the heart of what we do within the Children, Youth & Family (CYF) Liaison. As the County designated CYF Liaison within the San Diego Affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI San Diego), we are passionate about supporting families: parents, caregivers, youth and Transition Age Youth with behavioral and mental health concerns.

We work to ensure the Children’s System of Care is family friendly and understands the importance of lived experience. We provide parent support groups & classes, youth oriented digital platforms, professional training sessions, town hall style meetings, online focus groups, a strong community presence and a strong family voice.
In addition to supporting the family sector, we aim to strengthen the public and private sectors through improving collaboration between mental health professionals and Family / Youth Partners (CYF peer staff with lived experience). We want you to get to know all about the good work we do, and learn about the ways we can best support you.

Come engage with us in support of mental health and awareness for all San Diego area families!

3-D DEEP DIVE DIALOGUE FAMILY VOICE MEETING – for Families in the San Diego area.

NAMI San Diego is the community’s voice on mental health and wellness. The Children, Youth & Family Liaison, a program of NAMI San Diego, seeks to uphold the power of lived experience in the Children Youth and Family System of Care.
  • Do you (or a family you support) parent a child or youth with mental health needs? #YourVoiceMatters
  • Do you love someone who care-takes a child or youth with behavioral health concerns? #YourVoiceMatters
  • Are YOU a Youth or Young Adult (through age 24) engaged in the Behavioral Health System of Care? #YourVoiceMatters
Share your story! Share your Voice! Bring your challenges & successes. Give feedback to the system! Make a difference! Learn about new programs, supports and practices that may benefit your family. Find support if you are a family unconnected to resources.

Calling all parents, caregivers, youth and transition age youth….The 3-D Deep Dive Dialogue (previously known as the Family Voice Town Hall or FVTH) is an open, free, public community meeting and is a place and space for you to share your voice. Open to all families engaged in the Children Youth and Family System of Care (CYFSOC), and those who are looking for support / needing connections to local resources, we want also want to hear from CYFSOC Youth/Family Support Partners and Providers too! Bring your challenges, successes, barriers and positive stories to share. If your family has had experience with programs, mental health staff, therapy or psychiatrist, or peer staff, we want to hear what you have to say! #YourVoiceMatters

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our 3-D Family Voice Meetings will be using a virtual Zoom Online meeting platform beginning end-April, 2020 and continuing until further notice. Please revisit this page for upcoming meeting dates and times.

NORTH COUNTY INLAND LOCATION: Online format

NORTH COUNTY COASTAL LOCATION: Online format

CENTRAL LOCATION: Online format

EAST COUNTY LOCATION: Online format

SOUTH COUNTY LOCATION:Online format

FY 2020/21 MEETING DATES:

North County Inland – CURRENTLY VIRTUAL:

North County Coastal – CURRENTLY VIRTUAL:

  • New date coming soon – Time TBA

South County – CURRENTLY VIRTUAL:

Central – CURRENTLY VIRTUAL:

East County – CURRENTLY VIRTUAL:

For additional information, or to confirm location and meeting time, please contact CYFLiaison@namisd.org or call/text (858) 987-2980

YOUTH/FAMILY SUPPORT PARTNER MONTHLY COACHING MEETINGS – *NOW ONLINE!*

A monthly support meeting for Youth/Family Support Partners (Y/FSP), Peer Partners and parents / family members who wish to learn more about using their lived experiences to help others and about the work of Y/FSP Support Partners, this meeting is a one hour special topic coaching meeting followed by a 30 – 45 minute support and sharing meeting. Providers and general public are invited to attend the Coaching session of the meeting, generally taking place the first hour of the meeting. Please double check the special Meeting Topic notes next to each meeting date. For more information, please email CYFLiaison@namisd.org or call (858) 987-2980

April 23, 2021 – MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS (MHS) Alternatives to Detention CAT (Community Assessment Team) – presented by Cecelia Garcia-Plascencia

May 28, 2021 – CWS (Child Welfare System) Process of Court Hearings and Mandated Reporter Training – presented by Tania Jiminez

June 25, 2021 – (To be announced)

Meeting Location: Online meeting using Zoom Meeting platform beginning April 24, 2020 and continuing using this format until further notice.

When: Each 4th Friday monthly beginning at 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada). Meetings end by 3:00 pm at the latest, meeting length depending on presenter content.

RSVP: You must register in advance for this meeting by using the following link (please copy and paste into your browser. Note: Chrome browser works best for Zoom meetings): https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrdumhqDMqH9B41GhKnwEIRgUWS827FZrw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you have questions, please contact us at CYFLiaison@namisd.org or call or text (858) 987-2980

FAMILY YOUTH FOCUS GROUP MEETING –  ONLINE FORMAT – NEW! Join Us on Facebook LIVE!

The Family Youth Focus Group Meetings are for parents and caregivers of youth, Providers, Youth/Family Support Partners, and anyone who supports families engaged in behavioral health services and the Children’s System of Care. Meetings are used as a Focus Group and dedicated to discussing Best Practices in the current system of care and how we all can continue to improve or develop service systems to help families thrive. We want to hear what is working, emerging practices, programs, and policies.

Facebook LIVE is our NEW meeting platform! Join in on the 1st Tuesday of the last month in each quarter at 2:00 PM PST as we meet to discuss the system of care and what is important to you / your program. The meeting also includes a *NEW!* Hot Topic conversation prompt. This space will be updated as meeting topics become available. To join us, visit and Like the NAMI San Diego Facebook page, here and turn ON your notifications.

“WORKING TOGETHER” – Half-Day Virtual / In-Person & Live (when possible) Training:

Working Together is a FREE Live, Interactive Half-Day Virtual or In-Person training, offering a wealth of information to help all participants, Parents and Caregivers, Providers and Family / Youth Partners involved in the care and support of children, youth and families engaged in San Diego’s Children, Youth & Family Behavioral Health System of Care (CYFBHSOC) work efficiently together. Gain training strategies and tools to work more efficiently with colleagues and mental health partners to support families within the behavioral health field. 4 CE (Continuing Education Hours) available to qualified participants*.

Training Dates for FY 2020/21 are completed. Please check back for when FY 2021/22 training dates are announced.

  • (Upcoming Training Dates will be posted here when available)

Meeting Location: Virtual until further notice. In person trainings (when possible) take place at 5059 Murphy Canyon Road, Ste 320, San Diego, CA 92123

*For additional information, PLEASE email your name, organization, phone number to  CYFLiaison@namisd.org or call / text (858) 987-2980. 

*Working Together, a training of NAMI San Diego Children, Youth & Family Liaison, is approved by the CA Board of Registered Nursing, BRN Provider # 16262, for (4) CEH contact hours, CFAAP/CAADAC (4) CEH contact hours, California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) (4) CEH contact hours, California Association of DUI Treatment Programs, (CADTP) Provider #170 (4) CEH contact hours.

“PEP – Parents Empowering Parents – #OurVoicesMatter” – BI-MONTHLY PARENT SUPPORT MEETING IN ENGLISH & SPANISH

*NOTICE* – PEP Meeting is currently meeting Virtually. Click the links below to register on Zoom:

Note: Speaker coaching meetings are postponed until further notice.

This Free, Open Monthly support meeting is for parents, caregivers and loved ones of children and youth who are looking for support and/or have historically, currently, or need to be engaged in county funded behavioral health services. No parent or caregiver* looking for support will be turned away! This support group and coaching meeting features one and one half hour of Sharing and Caring. Currently and due to COVID-19 and the Stay At Home order, PEP meetings will meet weekly and alternate weekly in English and Spanish. Please refer to the schedule below for dates, times and languages.

*Attendance is limited to adult family members of children, youth and adult children who live with behavioral / mental health concerns and are San diego and Imperial County residents. There is a maximum number of 20 participants allowed in each online support meeting.

This meeting is NOT appropriate for students looking for direct experience hours. Students will be asked to leave during the Share and Care session in order to protect participants privacy!

Note: Speaker meetings are postponed until further notice.

This meeting will rotate every other week English and Spanish, with the following dates / languages:
Spanish meetings: Each FIRST Wednesday evening of the month starting at 6:00 pm PST

English meetings: Each THIRD Wednesday evening of the month starting at 6:00 pm PST

Please RSVP: By registering in advance for this meeting:

  • Registration Link for the Spanish PEP Meeting each 3rd Wednesday evening monthly: Click Here.
  • Registration Link for the English PEP MEeting each 3rd Wednesday evening monthly: Click Here.

After registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting

Meetings are free.

Any questions, email CYFLiaison@namisd.org or call/text (858) 987-2980.

NAMI Basics 6-week Class News and Updates

NAMI Basics is a free, 6-week education program for parents and family caregivers of children and teens still in school and who are under the age of 22 who are experiencing challenging behaviors, symptoms of a mental illness or whom have already received a mental illness diagnosis. NAMI Basics is offered in a group setting so you can connect with other people face-to-face. You’ll learn the facts about mental health conditions and how best to support your child at home, at school and when they’re getting medical care. Last year, 99% of participants told us they would recommend the program to other parents. The course is taught by a trained team with lived experience—they know what you’re going through because they’ve been there. The 6-session program provides critical strategies for taking care of your child and learning the ropes of recovery.

At NAMI Basics, you’ll find out that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope. The group setting of NAMI Basics provides mutual support and shared positive impact—you can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. You also can help others with your own experience.

NAMI Basics covers:

  • Managing crises, solving problems and communicating effectively
  • How to take care of yourself and handle stress
  • Developing the confidence and stamina to support your child with compassion
  • Advocating for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings
  • Learning about current treatments, including evidence-based therapies, medications and side effects
  • Gaining an overview of the public mental health care, school and juvenile justice systems
  • Understanding the challenges and impact of mental health conditions on your entire family

*Exciting Announcement for NAMI Basics for Parents and Caregivers Class!*

* NAMI Basics for Parents and Caregivers is now available as an ONLINE CLASS! The New online format for NAMI Basics for Parents & Caregivers class is now available to be accessed 7/24 on any computer at any time of the day or night for busy parents and caregivers. (Parents and Caregivers Class ONLY – Not yet available for the Professionals Class)

To learn more about NAMI Basics on Demand and sign up for the virtual class, please visit https://basics.nami.org

*INTEREST LIST NOW FORMING!* NAMI Basics for Professionals!

NAMI San Diego is now offering a chance for behavioral health professionals working in the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) Behavioral Health (BH) System of Care (SOC) to help them understand the impact that mental health conditions have on the youth as well as the families they serve. This is a rare opportunity for mental health clinicians, counselors, therapists, social workers, educators and program staff that do NOT have lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a youth with behavioral health needs to learn the unique nature of the family experience. The information shared in NAMI Basics will equip CYFBHSOC program staff with unique insights that can enable them to work more collaboratively with families as part of the treatment team. To be added to an interest list for the next class, please send an email to CYF Liaison at cyfliaison@namisd.org or by clicking here.

NEW PROFESSIONALS CLASS COMING SOON!: The Provider Course is for Family Youth Partners, Providers and Professionals working in the education or behavioral health field and supporting families of children with concerning behaviors or a mental health diagnosis. To be added to our Interest List: Email CYFLiaison@namisd.org OR call/text (858) 987-2980 for any questions or additional information.

1-Hour ONLINE Training: “PFYPP: PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY / YOUTH PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS”

Training content freshly updated as of January 2019 and ready for participants. The Free Principles of Family Youth Professional Partnerships (PFYPP) training is accessible online, and can be taken at any time of day, on any device. Please note: 1 CEH credit* is available to those who qualify and who spend the entire hour in the training classroom. To learn more, and obtain the login code to access the PFYPP training, please visit this link to be taken to the login page for the PFYPP Training: http://bit.ly/PFYPP2019_20 or visit this page for additional information; https://cyfliaison.namisandiego.org/online-training/

Please contact the CYF Liaison with any questions at cyfliaison@namisd.org or call/text to (858) 987-2980.

*PFYPP, a training of NAMI San Diego Children, Youth & Family Liaison, is approved by the CA Board of Registered Nursing, BRN Provider # 16262, for (1) CEH contact hours, CFAAP/CAADAC (1) CEH contact hours, California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) (1) CEH contact hours, California Association of DUI Treatment Programs, (CADTP) Provider #170 (1) CEH contact hours.