Mental Health Resources for ALL
9245 Laguna Springs Drive Suite 200 - #2389 Elk Grove, CA 95758
Visualizing Wellness: Our values
6 Areas of Focus
Board of directors
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Enjuli Bullock Chief Financial Officer
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Alexius Chatman Media and Marketing Officer
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Kenneth Glass Human Resource & Workforce Development
Kenneth Glass Human Resource & Workforce Development
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Kenneth Glass Human Resource & Workforce Development
Charissa Williams Youth Development Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Secretary
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Leslie Bess Therapueatic Programs Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Daryn Chatman Jr. Catering & Food Insecurity Program Officer
Daryn Chatman Jr. Catering & Food Insecurity Program Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Daryn Chatman Jr. Catering & Food Insecurity Program Officer
community development partner committee
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
The Growth Center I, Inc.
Enjuli Bullock Chief Financial Officer
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
The Growth Center I, Inc.
Alexius Chatman Media and Marketing Officer
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Alexius Chatman Media and Marketing Officer
Mon Amour
Shaun Conely Juvenille Justice Development
Clara Brown Chief Executive Officer /Founder
Alexius Chatman Media and Marketing Officer
Thee T.R.E.E of Life
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Women of Color on the Move
Mayumi Reese Nutrition & Business Development
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Impact Nutrition
Leslie Bess Therapueatic Programs Officer
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Kameelah Thompson Youth Workforce Devolpment & Grants
Mental Health Therapist
Kameelah Thompson Youth Workforce Devolpment & Grants
Dr. Sonia Pellerin Evaluative Procedure, Research & Data Officer
Kameelah Thompson Youth Workforce Devolpment & Grants
Envision Youth Services
Daryn Chatman Jr. Catering & Food Insecurity Program
Daryn Chatman Jr. Catering & Food Insecurity Program
Daryn Chatman Jr. Catering & Food Insecurity Program
Southern Vibez Catering
Our Mission
Our mission is to bring mental wellness awareness and support to children, youth, parents, educators, men and women icommunities across the world, creating trauma informed safe spaces that forge positive relationship, rewrite mental health narratives, dispel stigma, and encourage healthy mindset, habits and lifestyle.
OUR WHY
Our Story
Why Mental Wellness?
Mental wellness became a subject of immediate concern in my life when my mother experienced a mental health challenge that shook the very foundation of our family structure. The challenge, conversations, disbelief, anger, tears, fears, love and surprises seem to be a never ending roller coaster of frightening twists and turns, steep ups and extended downs.
Some of us understood her challenges, while others did not. I remember many moments of disbelief and even more days of 24/7 prayer. I remember family disagreements that led to siblings not speaking to each other or our mother. I further recall the day I had to sign my mother up for treatment and how I struggled to believe the reality of what was actually happening. The reality of her episodic grandiose behaviors had now immensely impacted her freedom. But with a little grace, understanding and self-checks we were able to make it through her first episode. I happened to be at the end of my master's degree program in Counseling Psychology,Studying the DSM IV when it all unfolded.
Never would I have imagined a day where I had to talk my mother, a devout Christian woman with 30 years of helping others as a registered nurse, into getting treatment for something she would not come to terms with. The greatest moment that happened in it all was our ability to communicate and an opportunity for me to validate her thoughts and feelings. I remember the look on her face that very day. It was a sigh of relief that someone understood her. Although it happened over 20 years ago it still saddens my heart and brings me to tears to think of what my mother struggled with internally and how she kept it to herself for so many years.
This experience further endeared me to understanding mental illness, health and wellness and how I can help my family and others understand they are not alone, there is help and how to access help.
It also prompted me to evaluate and grow my own mental wellness practices. As well as those of organizations that serve youth and their families.
The Growth Center I, Inc. was born from a passion to help others understand mental health, wellness and illness. Understanding that mental health IS health, changes perceptions and connects ALL involved to the proper resources to grow and live a happy healthy life. My life experiences and that of many of my loved ones, students and acquaintances have also inspired the movement to dispel the myth on various levels.
With more than 25 years of engaging youth, young adults, college students, unhoused, families, educators and mental health professionals in practices that manage mental health, my research and experiences support the TGC mission to educate individuals and communities across the world starting in the greater Sacramento area.
As an educator, I have observed many experiences of those who suffer in silence due to stigma, lack of timely help, socioeconomic barriers, financial insecurities, healthcare disparities, awareness and education.
Covid increased already challenging circumstances in school cases of depression, anxiety and stress-related mental health challenges. Our communities, schools and homes changed forever. The rising levels of anxiety, depression and stress left many children struggling to return to the life they knew before COVID within a school setting and at home.
Teachers and parents also struggled to find a sense of normalcy. Silent cries became a visible crisis at a lightning speed, demanding support that could not adequately be met by schools, health care providers and community support agencies' systemic approach to addressing mental health crises. Mental health providers were and still are impacted by the increase so much so that it is taking months for many to receive initial face to face treatment. BIPOC populations were already at a disadvantage. The increase in healthcare disparities, traumas and juvenile incarceration only deepened and widened the crisis in our community.
The Growth Center supports trauma informed approaches, coping support systems, self -advocacy, self-preservation and self discipline.
We are passionate about the wellness of our communities and growth of everyone within our villages, including unhoused, veterans, parents, grandparents, teachers, youth, families, schools and mental wellness support providers.
Clara Brown
Chief Executive Officer/Founder
M.S. Counseling Psychology
School Counselor
Life Coach (Cognitive Coaching)
Mental Wellness Coach
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Certified Suicide Prevention Specialist
Certified First Aid Crisis Interventionist
Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician
We are a non-profit functioning solely off the generous donation of time, resources, and funding from volunteers and sponsors like you. Email us to find out how you can contribute today.
what we do
Mental Health & Wellness
Educational Retreats, Camps, Summits, Forums, Conferences & Workshops
Parents, Women & Educators
Nutrition for Mental Health
Happy Healthy Brain Summer Academy
Youth Mental Wellness Retreats &workshops
Family Wellness Summer Days in the park
Youth Peer Mentor Program
Peer Support Specialist Certification
Educator Mental Wellness & Development
Women's Health and Wellness Retreat & Summit
Community Mental Wellness Awareness
Youth Leadership Development
Substance Usw Prevention & Intervention
Youth Civic Engagement (2024)
Community Involvement
Get Active Family Events
Social Group Events
Community Mental Wellness Presentations & Events
Youth Mental Health First Aid Classes
Partnerships
Youth Groups
Corporations
Non-profit Organizations
Small Business
Schools
Churches
Philanthropy Organizations
Wellness Providers
Organization Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings
Mental Health Workshop Series (Tailored to organizational needs)
Workshops/Classes Resources
Anxiety Management
Love and Respect
Parenting
Stress Management
Youth Development
Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification (for adults)
Announcement
Welcome! The Growth Center is a donation-based mental wellness community. We believe mental wellness support should be affordable and accessible to all. To continue offering our youth services at no charge to those who need it most, we rely on donations and sponsorhips from community members or organizations. Please consider supporting our mission.