STRIDES
280 17TH STREET | OAKLAND, CA 94612 | 510.238.5020
HOURS
Monday thru Friday:
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
CONTACT
Bob McCreery
bmccreery@telecarecorp.com
510.238.5020
510.261.3584 (fax)
CRISIS SERVICES
We guarantee on-call staff on-site
within an hour of a crisis call from
5 p.m. – 8:30 a.m., 365 days a year
Based on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model, STRIDES of Alameda
County is an intensive community support service for individuals with severe mental
illness (SMI), many of whom would otherwise require extended care in institutional
settings. STRIDES serves individuals who are high utilizers of mental health services and
who are considered to be at great risk for psychiatric hospitalization.
In addition, STRIDES is based on a recovery-centered model that assumes regardless of
the degree of impairment, almost all individuals have the potential to succeed in the
community when needed supports are available. The recovery-centered model
incorporates the belief that consumers of mental health services should determine
what is important in their lives. Working within this philosophy, STRIDES strives to
provide very welcoming and respectful services, utilizing a member-centered,
individualized approach emphasizing personal choice and empowerment.
ACT programs use multidisciplinary teams that include psychiatrists, nurses, masterslevel clinical staff and personal service coordinators. Some staff may be consumers
who are in recovery themselves.
Opened in 1994, STRIDES was started to offer assistance to members so they can
reside successfully in the community and increase their choices in living, learning
and working while using less of the of the more restrictive, high-cost county
mental health services.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
STRIDES is one of the oldest ACT programs in California. Many of our members have been enrolled in STRIDES since we opened.
For members who have been stable for a long time, we have developed a STEP-UP group to prepare our members for more
independence from STRIDES.
STRIDES has many ways of celebrating our members. We strive to empower them by having a Member Advisory Council. The
Member Advisory Council has input into how the program is run and helps plans celebrations. We celebrate all the major
holidays with our members including parties, luncheons and barbeques.
SERVICES
All services are person-centered with the goal of enhancing an individual’s safety, health and quality of life. Services include, but
are not limited to:
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Medication and symptom management
Coordination of health care
Increasing social supports
Supportive counseling
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Family connection
Addressing internalized stigma
Independent living skills training
Psychosocial assessment
ADMISSION CRITERIA
STRIDES is a voluntary program accepting individuals with a diagnosis of major Axis I mental illness such as schizophrenia, major
depression disorder, or bipolar disorder. Our mission is to work closely with Alameda County Behavioral Health in providing
services to high utilizers of Alameda County behavioral health services; acceptance into STRIDES is based on Alameda County’s
assessment, prioritization, and recommendation. Individuals accepted into STRIDES must have Medi-Cal or be Medi-Cal eligible.
STRIDES will not accept registered sex offenders.
REFERRAL PROCESS
STRIDES members are referred from our local IMD (Institution for Mental Diseases) facilities, MHRCs (Mental Health
Rehabilitation Centers), state hospitals, and the criminal justice system. Hard-to-place, high risk members are identified by the
facility social work staff. The social work staff asks whether the individual would like additional support services when they are
placed in the community. If the member agrees to services, the social worker moves forward with the referral. The referral is
forwarded to STRIDES' county contract monitor for prioritization and final approval. Our program then works to coordinate
discharge planning and community care with all care providers.
CONTACTING A FAMILY MEMBER
The involvement of family members is a very important aspect of recovery. We strive to provide support in strengthening our
members’ family relationships and extended support systems.
Per HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guidelines, staff members cannot release any client information
without a signed authorization.
JUST THE BASICS
Members: 120
Population Served: Adults ages 18-62 with severe mental illness
Funded by: Alameda County and federal financial participation in the Short-Doyle/Medi-Cal system