Project Start/End Dates: January 2024-ongoing
Geographic Area of Focus: Sacramento County, Del Paso Heights

Project Overview

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 connection to support improved behavioral health outcomes in Del Paso Heights.

Needs

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 highlight the need for accessible, trusted, and culturally responsive engagement.

Approach

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

Reach and Impact

Through thousands of one-on-one conversations and the distribution of more than 3,600 curated resource folders (averaging over 200 per month), the project has delivered practical, actionable information directly to community members.

Key Focus Areas