Community Connections

Community Connections is a community-driven initiative that advances equitable access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) information by meeting residents where they are. The project strengthens awareness, reduces stigma, and builds social connections to support improved behavioral health outcomes in Del Paso Heights and throughout Sacramento County in general.

Why This Work Matters

Del Paso Heights is a medically underserved community experiencing disproportionate behavioral health challenges, including higher rates of suicide mortality, poor mental health days, excessive drinking, and drug-induced deaths compared to state averages. These disparities reflect longstanding social determinants of health and underscore the need for accessible, trusted, and culturally responsive community engagement.

How This Work Is Done

CIBHS engages residents directly in familiar community spaces—such as laundromats, barber shops, churches, and food banks—through face-to-face outreach and culturally aligned messengers. Since January 2024, the project has prioritized relationship-building and trust to ensure information is relevant, actionable, and accessible to community members.

What This Work Delivers

Through thousands of one-on-one conversations and the distribution of more than 3,600 curated resource folders (averaging over 200 per month), Community Connections delivers practical, culturally relevant behavioral health information directly into the hands of residents.