A Better Way Inc

This October, A Better Way stands . 💜

Behind every statistic is a family, and often a child who saw, heard, or felt the effects of violence at home. With the right support, children can heal, and parents can rebuild.

Our therapists, Family Partners, and care teams provide trauma-informed support to children, youth, and families affected by violence and instability, helping families build the safe, stable, and loving relationships every child deserves.

If you or someone you know needs help:
💜 National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24/7: 1-800-799-7233 (or text START to 88788)
💜 Local support: thehotline.org/get-help/directory-of-local-providers
💜 Counseling, medical care, and relocation help may be available through the California Victim Compensation Board: victims.ca.gov

Learn more about our work: abetterwayinc.net

Introducing Enhanced Care Management (ECM) at A Better Way. 💛

ECM gives your family one Lead Care Manager who gets to know your situation, keeps your providers talking to each other, and meets you wherever is easiest: home, school, a shelter, the clinic, or a park.

It's a Medi-Cal benefit, so there's no added cost. You keep your own doctors, your other benefits stay the same, and you can stop at any time.

ECM may be a good fit if someone in your household is facing housing instability, frequent ER visits, a mental health or substance use challenge, a return home from a hospital or custody, or involvement with child welfare or foster care (up to age 26).

Serving Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Solano counties.

Learn more: abetterwayinc.net/ecm

Today is Youth Mental Health Day. Here are five simple but powerful ways to support the young people in your life:

1. Listen without trying to fix. Sometimes kids need to feel heard more than they need solutions. Put down your phone, make eye contact, and just be present.

2. Normalize talking about feelings. The more openly families talk about emotions (including hard ones) the easier it becomes for kids to ask for help when they need it.

3. Watch for changes in behavior. Withdrawal, irritability, changes in sleep or appetite — these can be early signs that a young person is struggling. Trust your instincts.

4. Build in downtime. Kids are overscheduled and overstimulated. Unstructured time to play, rest, and just be a kid is genuinely protective for mental health.

5. Seek support early. You don't have to wait until things reach a crisis point. Connecting a child or teen with mental health support sooner rather than later makes a real difference.

💚 At A Better Way, supporting the mental health of children and youth is at the heart of everything we do.

Today is the International Day of Peace 🌍 and we believe peace starts at home.

When children feel safe. When parents feel supported. When families have access to care and community. That's where peace takes root.

It doesn't happen all at once. It happens in small moments, in hard conversations, in hands held across a kitchen table. It happens when a child feels heard for the first time, or when a parent finds hope they thought was gone.

That's the work. And it starts with all of us.

🌟This month, we honor the vibrant histories, rich cultures, and countless contributions of our Hispanic and Latino community members — including the children, families, and staff who are at the heart of everything we do at A Better Way.

Our strength comes from our community. ¡Gracias por todo lo que aportan! 🎊

🎉 Ten years of dedication, compassion, and excellence — that's Shelly Gusse!

We are so happy to celebrate our Quality Assurance Supervisor Shelly's 10-year anniversary here at A Better Way. In her role, Shelly works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our agency runs at its best...and the people we serve feel that impact every single day.

In Shelly's own words:

"For the past 10 years, A Better Way has been more than a workplace. It has been a place of growth, support, friendship, and purpose. I am deeply grateful for the amazing team that has helped shape my journey and inspired me every step of the way."

Shelly, your commitment to quality and your heart for this work make A Better Way a better place for all of us. Here's to you, and to many more years together! 💙

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day. 💛

This year's theme, Changing the Narrative on Su***de, calls on all of us to Start the Conversation. That means challenging the myths, breaking the silence, and showing up with empathy for the people around us.

Su***de is preventable. And it starts with all of us — communities, families, friends — choosing openness over silence.

If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out:
📞 Call or Text 988 — the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.

You don't have to have the perfect words. Just being present, listening without judgment, and asking "Are you okay?" can change everything.

Let's build a world where no one faces their darkest moments alone. 💛

Big things start small. A class attended. A goal set. A milestone that seemed out of reach...until it wasn't. 🌟

At ABW, we're here for every single one of those moments. We exist to help families build confidence, grow their skills, and open doors to futures full of possibility. And none of it happens without this community.

💙 Thank you for showing up, giving back, and making the impossible feel a little more possible every day.

September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, a time to remind our community that no one has to face their darkest moments alone. 💙

A Better Way is proud to work alongside incredible organizations like Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, whose team provides compassionate, 24/7 crisis support to anyone who needs it.

If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out:
📞 Call or text 988
💬 Chat at 988lifeline.org
📞 Alameda County local line: 1-800-309-2131

Together, we can build communities where every child and family feels seen, supported, and never alone.

🔗 Learn more about Crisis Support Services: crisissupport.org
🔗 Learn more about our work: abetterwayinc.net

At A Better Way, our mission drives everything we do — empowering children and families to build the skills, insights, and lasting relationships they need to thrive. Every family deserves support. Every child deserves a chance. 💙

Learn how you can help make that possible → abetterwayinc.net