Mayor Says He’s Deploying Volunteer Mental Health Workers To South Sacramento

Mayor Darrell Steinberg has put out a call for mental health professionals to bring services to Stephon Clark’s Meadowview neighborhood, and other areas that have been hard hit by the incident.

When 22-year-old Stephon Clark was shot by police in his grandmother’s backyard last month, neighborhood residents cried out for accountability from law enforcement. They also asked for more resources - including mental health services - in their communities.

Now, the mayor is asking psychologists, therapists, social workers and other professionals trained in trauma based care to provide services in neighborhoods grappling with violence and poverty.

He said the city is not formally committing funding at this time.

“We’re going to seek to organize and deploy people in the schools and in other places in the community where people are crying out for help,” he said.

He acknowledged the longstanding lack of providers in these areas, and said he wants to build a network of community based providers that are available to people whether individually or in groups.

“To be able to talk, to be able to be heard, to be able to be directed to resources and the help that they need,” he said.

Stephon’s brother, Ste’Vante Clark, admitted himself for a few days of inpatient psychiatric treatment after the shooting.

Professionals who want to provide services can sign up at bit.ly/calltoheal.