California Department of Mental Health

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SRC Statewide Services | Services | Links | Reports

Caring for a loved one with cognitive disorder or another disabling condition forever changes the lives of families and caregivers. There can be devastating effects on those providing long-term care: financial pressures, legal quandaries, health problems, and emotional turmoil.

Fortunately, in California, there is help. Eleven Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs), throughout the state serve thousands of families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease and other disorders. California was the first state in the nation to establish a statewide network of support organizations for caregivers; every resident has access to a CRC in their area (see below for services).

You can keep up with the latest news, training opportunities, and support strategies that you can use every month by subscribing to the California Caregiver e-newsletter.

STATEWIDE RESOURCES CONSULTANT (SRC)

As part of the CRC system, Family Caregiver Alliance, serves as California's Statewide Resources Consultant (SRC), and is the liaison with the Department of Mental Health. The SRC maintains a centralized information clearinghouse for adults with cognitive disorders, their families, caregivers, and related services and organizations. Several publications and fact sheets are provided in Spanish and Chinese.

SRC SERVICES

  • Maintains a Statewide Database on CRC Clients
  • Implements and Reports on Public Policy and Program Development
  • Conducts Public Awareness and Advocacy Efforts
  • Provides Training and Applied Research
  • Provides Technical Assistance to CRC sites, DMH and Other State Departments
  • Develops and Disseminates Publications and Educational Programs

For more information on caregiving and the CRC system, please contact:

Family Caregivers Alliance, (800) 445-8106 or (415) 434-3388.
E-mail: info@caregiver.org

REGIONAL CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER SERVICES

Each CRC provides the following core services to families and caregivers at low or no cost:

Specialized Information and Referral
Referrals and advice related to caregiver stress, diagnoses and community resources.
Family Consultation and Care Planning
Trained staff consultations to assess needs of persons with cognitive impairment and their families, explore care options, and develop a course of action.
Respite Care
Financial assistance for temporary in-home support, adult day care services, short-term or weekend care and transportation.
Short-Term Counseling
Individual, family and group sessions with licensed counselors to offer emotional support to caregivers
Support Groups
Online or in-person meetings to share experiences and ideas to ease the stress of caregiving.
Professional Training
Workshops on long-term care, patient management, public policy, legal and financial issues for health and service providers.
Legal and Financial Consultation
Experienced attorneys consult on Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives, estate and financial planning, conservatorships and other matters.
Education
Special workshops on topics such as cognitive disorders, dealing with dementia, long-term care planning and stress management to help caregivers cope with day-to-day concerns.

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL LINKS

  • FCA Web Resource guide: A comprehensive directory for all aspects of caregiving, medical information, foundations, and support groups.
  • Administration on Aging National Family Caregiver Support: Web resources for elders, caregivers, professionals and providers.
  • National Respite Locator Service: Helps parents, caregivers, and professionals find respite services in their state and local area to match their specific needs.

REPORTS

FY 2004-05 pdficon(348KB)
FY 2003-04 pdficon (737KB)
FY 2002-03 pdficon (756KB)
FY 2001-02 pdficon (2.3MB)
FY 2000-01 pdficon (376KB)