Wellness Connect Program
We are proud to announce the October 2021 opening of our new and innovative program funded by our partners at Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health. Below you will find information about the Wellness Connect program services and the team.
Wellness Connect Purpose
Participant Flyer | Brochure | Emergency Contact Card
Español: Volante | Folleto | Tarjeta de contacto en caso de emergencia
Wellness Connect is a mental health program providing prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services for young adults experiencing significant emotional and/or mental health challenges. Wellness Connect partners with Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health as a Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) program based on the NAVIGATE treatment approach. The CSC team provides an effective and whole-person treatment approach to individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis, including comprehensive case management, psychiatry, supported employment and education, co-occurring substance use, peer navigation and family support services to young adults.
Program Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm
Meet the Team
Program Director
Kayla Olinger
Kayla oversees and manages the Wellness Connect program and serves as the Community Connection liaison for the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) Transition Age Youth (TAY) team with Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health.
In addition to leading the Wellness Connect team, Kayla provides education and resources to community providers, families and young adults to enhance mental health wellness and reduce stigma.
Clinical Director
Dagny Blaskovich, LCSW
Dagny is the Clinical Director & Individual Resiliency Trainer (IRT) of the Wellness Connect Team. Dagny facilities the IRT curriculum for young adults experiencing a first episode psychosis.
Dagny specializes in helping individuals identify and work towards their goals. She teaches each individual strategies and skills to build their resiliency in coping with psychosis while staying on track with their lives.
Case Managers
Genesis Cantu- (North County)
Rose Ruiz- (South County)
Tamar Wexler- (Wellness Coach)
Our case managers provide coordinated care to young adults in the Wellness Connect program. Each case manager is trained in a variety of evidence-based mental health treatment services and provide a range of rehabilitation services, linkage to ancillary community services, crisis intervention, system navigation, community integration and outreach, engagement & prevention services to young adults.
Additionally, case managers help the whole family learn about psychosis, how to manage it, and how to support each other in building family resiliency.
Supported Employment and Education Specialist
Autym Helzer
Autym utilizes the evidence-based practices of Supported Employment and Supported Education to provide integration of employment and mental health services, rapid job search, employment support, benefits counseling, post-placement services and skill building.
Autym provides education support including identification and development of education goals, linkage to Cabrillo College and other academic institutions, enrollment support and development of coping skills to overcome barriers to academic success.
Advocacy and Engagement Coordinator
Rose Ruiz
Our Advocacy & Engagement Coordinator uses innovative approaches to enhance access, engagement and prevention services with targeted e-marketing, technology utilization, web-based resources, training and outreach to targeted community settings including schools, community-based & faith-based organizations, and households. The coordinator develops and manages Wellness Connects social media channels aimed at providing education, prevention and advocacy for TAY.
Mental Health & Co-Occurring Specialist
Mental Health Specialist: Sandra Shamma
Co-Occurring Specialist: Danika Brunelli
Our Mental Health and Substance Use Specialists utilize a variety of evidence-based behavioral health treatment approaches to support young adults in managing mental health and substance use challenges.
Danika specializes in co-occurring mental health & substance use services, utilizing the Integrated Dual-Disorder Treatment (IDDT) model to provide recovery services aimed at stabilization, behavioral change management, relapse prevention, and integrated substance use and mental health symptom management and coping skill building.
Sandra utilizes the Motivational Interviewing, Supported Employment and Recovery Model approaches to support young adults in building skills and achieving mental health wellness goals.
Wellness Coach
Tamar Wexler
Tamar provides young adults with a variety of wellness services including community navigation, social integration, advocacy, support, skill building and education while participants are in acute treatment settings including Telecare, El Dorado Center, Telos, Casa Pacific, Second Story, Board & Care, Janus, Jail and other acute treatment settings. Tamar helps young adults achieve wellness by removing barriers and gaps in services, and providing “warm-hand offs” to other providers.
