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HCN’s Impact
HCN's 2024-2025 program evaluations are a product of The Institute of Child Development Research and Social Change at Indigo Cultural Center. The reports highlight each program's methodology, key findings, and spotlight our impact through the voices of program participants and our HCN team.
Amani Mental Health Training Program
“We are needed in all fields and industries and centering our mental health is paramount as we forge a future of inclusive contributions.” - Amani Participant
HCN’s Amani Mental Health Training provided entry-level mental health professional training, while equipping participants with the tools, resources, and frameworks to embark on their respective healing journeys. In FY 24-25, 96% of the Amani program participants graduated! 75% of Amani graduates are now successfully employed in different roles (e.g., Community Educator, Peer Counselor, Outreach Practitioner, Public Health Worker).
Black and African American Community-Based Substance Use Prevention and Education Initiative
“[Being a Peer Educator] gave me a lot more purpose while being here…It taught me a lot of things. I’ve actually had to use techniques I learned from the class to save a life…I’m thankful that I did have the class and the experience so I could learn these things.” - Jabali Peer Educator
This program expanded community awareness of substance-use disorder (SUD) within San Francisco through substance use and overdose community presentations, a targeted digital and media awareness campaign, and on-the-ground outreach. The targeted awareness campaign resulted in over 21 million impressions! Through on-the-ground outreach and community presentations, the Community-Based Substance Use Prevention and Education team reached 647 unique community members.
Black Birthing Health Initiative (BBHI)
The visibility and the presence of Black perinatal professionals in these spaces opens the door to talk about things people normally don’t talk about.
HCN's BBHI program established the framework for delivering mental health and wellness education and resources to Black/African American birthing individuals. The BBHI team outreached to over 50 organizations in San Francisco and identified opportunities for partnership and collaboration. The BBHI team also co-designed a new, inclusive space for BBHI services, and in May 2025, HCN hosted an Open House which was attended by over 100+ community members, community partners, and individuals interested in participating in the BBHI Program.
Case Management
“I don’t have people, [my Case Manager] is MY PEOPLE!!! Perfect match!” - Case Management Client
HCN’s Case Management team supported over 80 clients across all HCN programs! Under the Emergency Solutions Grant, HCN’s Case Management team supported 33 clients specifically with housing goals. For all 87 clients, HCN staff supported them to address needs including housing, mental health support, substance use, family support groups, employment, legal support, food resources, and domestic violence support. 100% of case management satisfaction survey respondents were satisfied with their Case Manager’s ability to connect them with resources, and agreed that the services they received were helpful.
Community Holistic Overdose Prevention Program (CHOPP)
“Everyone matters whether you use drugs or you don’t. We’re all human. We all deserve respect. We’re all at different parts in [our] life so you shouldn’t cast judgment on another person. Inspire and lift them up instead.” - Survey Respondent
This year, CHOPP laid the foundation for peer-based substance use outreach, awareness, education, and training. This included hiring culturally congruent staff with lived experience, developing a plan for disseminating education and resources to the community and identifying local gaps in access to overdose prevention services. Peer Specialists received training in active listening skills, motivational interviewing, language for reducing stigma towards people who use drugs (PWUD) and substance use services, improving their capacity to offer essential programmatic services. Additionally, the CHOPP team gained a deep understanding of local experiences and proximity to substance use, local knowledge of substance use resources and interest in substance use education and awareness workshops. This information will be invaluable to service delivery.
Community Mental Health
“I think of a push on the bike that we are metaphorically riding. This push is bringing me to believe in the confidence others have in the men’s group.” - Men’s Empowerment Group Participant
HCN’s Community Mental Health team delivered individual and group mental health support to children aged 0-18, families, and adults residing in the Bayview-Hunters Point, Western Addition, Tenderloin, South of Market, Fillmore, and Castro neighborhoods of San Francisco. In total, the CMH team provided mental health services to 1080 individuals and/or families (including those who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or Black/African American) through a diverse range of community mental health programming, including but not limited to: a reading circle with children in an early education classroom, a high school men’s empowerment support group, a grief group at a Permanent Supportive Housing site, an LGBTQIA+ support group, and community conversations and events.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
“I love being able to see the relationship flourish and strengthen with my help and guidance.” - CPP therapist
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is a trauma-informed, evidence-based intervention that strengthens the caregiver-child relationship after traumatic events and/or behavioral problems and/or attachment problems. HCN’s Child-Parent Psychotherapy program recruited and trained a cohort of clinicians to be rostered in CPP. These clinicians successfully delivered the CPP modality to 30 families with children aged 0-6.
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC)
“Our MHC has been incredibly supportive in helping us create a positive and nurturing environment.They’ve provided valuable strategies and resources that have made a real difference in our day-to-day work.” - Site staff
HCN’s ECMHC program provided mental health consultation to 448 staff across 26 locations serving 900+ children, including early care and education sites, family resource centers, San Francisco Unified School District sites, and shelters. As a result of HCN’s services, site staff and teachers saw improved teamwork, increased effectiveness in communicating with families, and improved understanding of children’s behavior.
Entre Nosotros
“Our newcomer students are going through a lot of changes and this group helps normalize their feelings and helps them bond with each other. They also work on real life skills that help with the acculturation process.” - School Social Worker
HCN’s Entre Nosotros program provides culturally-affirming, holistic case management, and mental health and wellness services for Latine-identified and Spanish-speaking communities. In its pilot year, Entre Nosotros held 5 six-week Newcomer Youth Support Groups, reaching 42 newcomer youth. After participation in the Newcomer Youth Support Group, students’ self-reported confidence in their personal strengths and connection to cultural heritage saw a significant increase.
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General Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program
“When clients see their caregivers acknowledging and working through [personal trauma and intergenerational patterns], it often deepens mutual understanding and fosters greater compassion within the family.” - General EPSDT Clinician
HCN’s General EPSDT program targeted the mental well-being of underserved youth groups, including but not limited to: newcomer Latine youth; immigrant youth and their families; LGBTQIA+ identified youth; and youth without housing. This year, HCN’s General EPSDT clinicians, and clinical interns provided mental health services to 120 youth, equating to 2,440 hours of General EPSDT therapeutic services and 115.25 hours of case management; together, these services improved clients’ emotional awareness and regulation skills, self-esteem, and the caregivers’ ability to support the clients’ emotional needs .
Jabali Youth Advocacy
“I’ve learned [about taking] accountability, action, and taking responsibility for my actions [in my community].” - Jabali Youth Advocate
HCN’s Jabali Youth Advocacy program empowered youth to amplify their voices around substance use and prevention. Through the program youth built connections with each other, developed civic engagement and leadership skills, which culminated into a youth-driven substance use awareness project: a branded clothing line titled “Legacy.”
Kupona Early Intervention, Outpatient, and Intensive Outpatient
HCN’s ability to provide substance use treatment to the community finally allows us to expand much needed services to corners of the community that previously couldn’t be easily reached. I look forward to seeing HCN provide these clients with the same destigmatizing, client-forward care that our other programs have offered for years.” – HCN Staff
In its pilot year, HCN’s Kupona Early Intervention, Outpatient, and Intensive Outpatient programs laid the foundation for substance use treatment services to be offered to Black/African American youth and youth of color, youth that are housing insecure, and at-risk-youth under the age of 18. During this early implementation phase, the Kupona team has hired appropriate staff, strengthened relationships with local Black-led and Black-serving organizations and taken steps to obtain the appropriate administrative certifications necessary for service provision.
Ma’at
I’ve witnessed in my child more self-confidence and more awareness of his emotions“I’ve witnessed in my child more self-confidence and more awareness of his emotions…” - Parent…
The Ma’at program at HCN provides Afri-centric, culturally-responsive mental health and wellness services to children and their families who have been historically marginalized. This year, the Ma’at program exceeded program goals, providing therapeutic services to 70 children ages 0-17 (2,217.7 hours of services) and made 7,582 contacts with the children’s support systems, including their siblings, parents and guardians, peer supports, grandparents, teachers, primary care physicians, and more.
Ma’at Youth Leadership Program
“This program helped me prepare for high school by just showing me what I can get done and how I can get it done.” - Ma’at Youth Leader
Through HCN’s Ma’at Youth Leadership program, middle school and high school participants developed leadership and life skills, academic career readiness, social justice education, and civic engagement. As a result of engaging in the Ma’at Youth Leadership program, youth participants reported increased academic readiness (high school and college), increased self-confidence, and increased ability to advocate for their community.
Brighter Futures
“[Participating in the HCN Brighter Futures Program is] making me a better father. I’m still working on it. I’m still working everyday. In three words: I’m getting better daily.” - Brighter Futures Father
HCN’s Brighter Futures program provided free group and individual therapy and case management services to Black/African American fathers using an Africentric framework. Through the Brighter Futures program, participants established better communication skills, improved perceptions of themselves, and improved relationships with their family members.
Reflections 2023-2024
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