Dear friends,
"Day by day" is the common theme amongst the heart centered, hardworking people that I am fortunate to serve with. The Steinberg Institute team is rooted in solidarity and a renewed commitment to serving the most vulnerable people of California.
You have no doubt noticed the increasing number of unhoused people on the streets and heard stories of seeing intoxicated and severely mentally ill people filling hospital emergency departments.
The work the Steinberg Institute does is specifically to address those problems (among others). Our Vision 2030 plan has 4 goals: It aims to reduce homelessness, incarceration, and hospitalization of people with mental illness and substance use challenges by half. The initiative also focuses on rebuilding a representative behavioral health care workforce in California.
Founded in 2015 by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and supported by a distinguished Board of Directors, the Steinberg Institute has become a leading force in transforming California’s mental health and substance use care systems. Through educating policymakers and advocating for impactful policies, we've made meaningful strides in improving access to care for those who need it most.
What sets us apart? The Steinberg Institute operates with complete independence. We don’t accept federal funding and are not a membership organization, which allows us to speak freely and apply pressure on a system that hasn’t always prioritized the most vulnerable. This independence is key to our ability to drive real change.
Looking ahead to 2025 - 2026, we have ambitious goals and even greater plans to build on our successes. To continue this important work, we need your support!
Every donation, no matter the size, helps us maintain our independence and keep pushing for the progress that California desperately needs.
Our recent victory: Sponsored bill, AB 1907 (Pellerin), was signed into law. The bill seeks to enhance the Child Welfare Indicators Project, established by AB 636 (Steinberg) in 2001, by incorporating the use of essential behavioral health data. By including tools like the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment and other behavioral health metrics, the bill will enable the state and counties to make more informed investments in behavioral health services for youth involved in the child welfare system. This aligns with our Vision 2030 goal of reducing systems involvement for individuals with behavioral health conditions. In particular, it addresses the disproportionate number of foster youth who face homelessness and interaction with the juvenile justice system.
We whole heartedly believe that members of our community are worth investing in. We hope you do too.
Tai Batov
Fundraising Manager
The Steinberg Institute Darrell, Karen, Jason, Tara, John, Corey, Lauren, Carmen, Tai, Jen