June News Roundup
June 16, 2026 – From the “California Love, California Strong” initiative to foster youth crisis care legislation, your June News Roundup is here!
Featured Articles
California Love, California Strong Takes Initiative to Support Youth Mental Health
- “California Love, California Strong,” led by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, held an event during Mental Health Awareness Month in May at the Los Angeles Coliseum with youth-led panels including LGBTQ+ college students, mental health information booths and playtime for kids to shoot hoops and jump rope together.
- The event offered positive methods and resources to counter isolation, feelings of loneliness and improve mental health.
- During her remarks, the First Partner said, “Even though we are more connected than ever before because of technology, data shows that too many people, especially our teenagers and young adults aged 13 to 29, are feeling very alone.”
Assembly Advances Ramos Bills on Foster Youth Crisis Care, California Indian Heritage Center
- The California State Assembly approved two bills advancing legislation aimed at improving crisis treatment options for foster youth and supporting the development of a statewide cultural center honoring California Native American history and culture.
- According to the first bill summary, the expanded framework would help create “a network of services” so foster youth can access higher or lower levels of intervention “without disruption or delay.”
- Under the second bill, the California Department of Parks and Recreation would enter into an operating agreement with the California Indian Heritage Center Support Organization to create a cultural center in West Sacramento that will honor the history, cultures and contributions of California Native peoples.
Visualizing Teen Mental Health: Oakland Students Highlight Caregivers Through Photography
- A recent workshop facilitated by several Bay Area organizations asked Oakland high schoolers to visualize the impact their caregivers have on their mental health.
- Each student chose a caregiver — a parent, teacher, friend, sibling, partner — whose care and often unseen labor quietly sustains them and shapes their well-being.
- Over a three-month period, students developed photo essays documenting the impacts of that caregiving in their lives.
Darrell Ezell: From L.A.’s Streets to Certified Wellness Coach
June 12, 2026 – Darrell Ezell spent 12 years living in what he describes as a “vicious cycle.”
After dropping out of high school at 16, he struggled with feelings of anger, frustration, abandonment, and sadness. Living on the streets of Los Angeles’ Skid Row, he turned to alcohol and drugs to cope, eventually landing in jail.
“I was mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally exhausted, but I refused to accept help,” Darrell said. “I had a lot of trust issues, and it took five times until I finally decided to accept the help I so badly needed.”
After completing a court-mandated drug treatment program, Darrell found a new purpose: helping others facing similar behavioral health challenges.
“I want to be the voice for the voiceless,” he said. “As someone with lived experience, I’m able to better connect with individuals who have experienced homelessness and substance abuse.”
Darrell attends California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), taking courses at the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing in the Department of Human Services. He is on track to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services in 2027.
“I love being part of the Toro community. The professors have been kind, compassionate, empathetic and transparent,” he said.
Now a parent to three children, he wants to pursue a career helping children and youth.
“I believe we need to get to the root of the problem early, before problems escalate. If we can help children and youth learn life skills and coping mechanisms early on, we can lessen the trauma out there on the streets,” he said.
For the past five years, Darrell has worked as a substance abuse counselor. Seeking to expand his skills and impact, he earned his Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) I certification in January 2025. Three months later, he received a $30,000 Certified Wellness Coach scholarship from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to continue his education at CSUDH and pursue CWC II certification.
Darrell feels fortunate to have rebuilt relationships with his family. Looking back, he wishes he had a trusted adult like a Certified Wellness Coach when he was younger.
“We have to break that generational curse,” he said. “Hurt people hurt people, but early intervention can help break that pattern.”
His goal is to “provide hope to the hopeless” and remain visible and available to those who need support.
“I believe this is my spiritual direction,” he said. “My journey took its course to this moment so I can help bring those with similar experiences from the dark to the light. Even in times of uncertainty, there can be certainty, and it’s very rewarding to know that the young adults I work with feel seen and heard.”
To learn more about CSUDH’s behavioral health education programs, visit csudh.edu/human-services.
To learn more about California’s Certified Wellness Coach program, click here.
What Employers Are Saying About Certified Wellness Coaches
June 5, 2026 – What I really describe a Wellness Coach is, is a safe person whose only job is to figure out ‘what does this student need?’ A lot of times, our students don’t have an immediate mental health crisis. They just need to be heard.
Matthew Reddam, LMFT, is the School and Community Wellness Advisor for Butte County Office of Education, and he understands the need for Certified Wellness Coaches in rural communities. Butte County Office of Education is just one of hundreds of employers in California who have integrated Wellness Coaches into their schools. Watch the full video to hear other insights from employers.
Curious about hiring or verifying a Certified Wellness Coach? Check out this page for information and FAQs for employers, and join our LinkedIn group to connect.
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HCAI partners with California Community Colleges, California State Universities, and private nonprofit universities whose curricula meet all the requirements for a student to apply for a Wellness Coach certification upon graduation.
Stay up to date with the latest details about the program, timelines, and grant opportunities.
Stay
Updated
Stay up to date with the latest details about the program, timelines, and grant opportunities.
