About Us

Family Paths, Inc. (formerly Parental Stress Service) is a non-profit organization of mental health professionals and dedicated volunteers that provide a number of mental health, counseling and therapy services to low income, multi-stressed individuals and families.

We are a multicultural agency committed to serving families of Alameda County regardless of age, ethnicity/race, financial status, language, sexual orientation, immigration status, class, religion, gender, mental or physical ability.

We have served the mental health needs of Alameda’s families since 1972, and today we offer services from offices in Oakland, Hayward and Fremont. These services include a 24-hour Family Support & Resource Hotline, a 24-hour Foster Parent Advice Line, Emergency Respite Child Care, CalWORKs Case Management, and Positive Parenting Classes. We also provide counseling for infants, children, adolescents adults and families

For more information about our organization, please choose an area to the left.

Program Directors and Board of Directors

Executive Director

Marcella Reeves is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist currently living in Oakland, California. She is the Executive Director of Family Paths, Inc. and has been with the organization since 1992 when she began working for Family Paths as a family therapist and crisis line supervisor. She founded the agency’s “Families In Transition” program in 1995, providing wraparound mental health services to children in foster care. Prior to her work at Family Paths, Ms. Reeves worked as a clinical researcher for Stanford University and was a group facilitator for the University of Arizona’s drug & alcohol early intervention program. She has lived in Asia for 10 years, 7 of which were spent in Japan and 3 in the Philippines. When she is not working, Marcella enjoys reading, traveling, cooking and enjoying gourmet cuisine.

Clinical Director

Barbra Silver has worked at Family Paths since 1998, starting as a clinician in the Families in Transition Program and becoming the program's Training Coordinator soon after. She served as the North County Program Manager for the FIT team from 2000-2006 and became Clinical Director the beginning of 2007. Prior to her experience at Family Paths, she worked as a clinician in elementary schools, a dual diagnosis adolescent residential facility and at various outpatient therapy clinics around the Bay Area. Ms. Silver received her MA in Psychology from New College of California in 1995 and has been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2000.

Finance Director

Lyda Mata our Finance Director, hails from the Philippines, and migrated to the United States in 1979. She has lived in the Bay Area ever since. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and is a Certified Public Accountant. Lyda joined Family Paths in May 2006. She came to us with a wealth of experience, having been an Accountant for another non-profit agency for 26 years. Before that, she was a Senior Auditor here in Oakland and a Bank Examiner with the Central Bank of the Philippines.

Development Director

Tara Bartholomew our Development Director, joined our team in 2008 and comes to us from The Family Stress Center in Concord where she had many successes in fundraising. She began her career as a Program Director for youth and family social service programs and decided to make the transition into fundraising six years ago. Since then, she has built strong relationships with the County, private foundations, and individual donors. An undergraduate of St. Mary’s College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Government, Tara was born and raised in the Bay Area and has dedicated her time to helping children and families here.

Director of Technology

Christopher Palmer has worked in technology services for more than 15 years. Formerly he was the director of technology for the Global Business Network, The Idea Factory, and the East Bay Conservation Corps. He is also a practicing artist and arts educator in the San Francisco bay area, runs a consultancy for tech arts, and is a member of the faculty at San Francisco Art Institute, and at The Crucible in Oakland, where he teaches technological arts.

Board of Directors

Eliza Khuner, Board President and member of The Friends of Family Paths, began volunteering with Family Paths in 2003 as a Hotline Counselor on the Family Support Hotline because she loves families and believes that supporting parents is the best way to help children grow up to become healthy, happy members of society. Eliza joined the Board because seeing first-hand the valuable services Family Paths offers the community prompted her to further support this worthy organization. She continues to volunteer as a Counselor on the Family Support Hotline in addition to serving on the Board. Eliza has a background in mathematics and works as an analytic consultant with FICO, developing statistical models for decision-making.

Al Peters, Vice President, retired in 2002. He practiced public accounting for twenty years, including as an audit partner for an international CPA firm, and served as CFO for fifteen years with a property and casualty Insurance Company. Al received my primary and secondary education in Oakland and then received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He was a member of the Piedmont City Council from 1994 to 2002, including two years as Mayor. He currently serve on the Board of Directors of Chabot Space and Science Center, Family Paths, Inc. and Samuel Merritt University.

Other experience includes serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malaysia for two years and serving on the Board of Directors of other not-for-profit organizations, including Volunteers of America, Bay Area, Oakland Rotary Club #3, Cal Business Alumni Association, Bay Area Chapter and the Montclair Presbyterian Church.

He is married and has two married sons and three granddaughters. Three to four times a week Al may be found on the tennis courts in the area.

Sister Lynn Marie Gillanders, Board Treasurer, has been on the Board since 2007. She is a Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose and comes with a background in Elementary Education/Administration. She has worked on the Development Committee and is presently working in the Development Office of her Community. She is also on the Board for the Restoration of Mission San Jose.

Notice of Privacy

Family Paths, Inc. Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO IT. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Family Paths, Inc. has a legal duty to safeguard your Protected Health Information.
This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your PHI. Protected Health Information is information about you, including demographic information that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services. Our practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your PHI.

Family Paths, Inc. reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and the agency’s privacy policies at any time. Any changes will apply to PHI on file with the agency already. You can request a copy of this notice from Family Paths, Inc. Privacy Officer at 510-893-9230, or view a copy of it in our office or at our website http://www.familypaths.org

A: HOW FAMILY PATHS, INC. MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION.

1. Uses and disclosures relating to treatment, payment, or health care operations
Under HIPAA regulations, Family Paths, Inc. does not need to obtain permission to use health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations. However, several California State laws require client consent before health information is used or disclosed by health care providers.

a) For treatment. Family Paths, Inc. can use your PHI for coordination of treatment with other Family Paths, Inc. Staff. For example, your therapist may talk to his or her supervisor or other clinicians about your case.

b) To obtain payment for treatment. Family Paths, Inc. can disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services provided by Family Paths, Inc. to you. For example, Family Paths, Inc. might send your PHI to your health plan to get paid for the health care service that Family Paths, Inc. has provided to you.

c) For health care operations. Family Paths, Inc. can disclose your PHI to operate our agency. For example, Family Paths, Inc. can disclose your PHI to other agencies to authorize services or to evaluate the quality of services. For example, Family Paths, Inc. might use your PHI to evaluate the quality of health care services that you received or to evaluate the performance of the health care professional that provided such services to you.

d) Other disclosures. Family Paths, Inc. may also disclose your PHI to others without your consent in certain situations. For example, your consent isn’t required if you need emergency treatment, as long as we try to get your consent after treatment is rendered.

2. Other uses and disclosures that do not require your consent Family Paths, Inc. can use and disclose your PHI without your consent or authorization for the following reasons:

a) Abuse or Neglect. Family Paths, Inc. may disclose your PHI if we believe that you have been a victim or perpetrator of child or elder abuse or neglect to a governmental entity or agency authorized to receive such information. In the case of apparent harm to self, Family Paths, Inc. may disclose your PHI to the proper authority. In this case, the disclosure will be made consistent with the requirements of applicable federal and state laws.

b) Law enforcement. Family Paths, Inc. may disclose PHI for law enforcement purposes, subpoena, or as required by law. Family Paths, Inc. may also disclose PHI in cases of threat or harm to others.

c) For health oversight activities. Family Paths, Inc. may have to provide information to assist the government when it conducts an investigation or inspection of a health care provider.

d) For research purposes. In certain circumstances Family Paths, Inc. may provide PHI in order to conduct medical research.

e) Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. Family Paths, Inc. may use PHI to provide appointment reminders and to give you information about treatment alternatives, or other health care services.

3. Other uses and disclosures require your prior written authorization In any other situation not described in sections 1 and 2 above, Family Paths, Inc. will make every effort to obtain written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI. If you choose to sign an authorization to disclose your PHI, you can later revoke such authorization to stop any future uses and disclosures of your PHI.

B: WHAT RIGHTS YOU HAVE REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION.

1. The Right to request limits on uses and disclosures of your PHI. You have the right to request limits to the use and disclosure of your PHI. We will consider your request. However we are not legally required to agree to it. If we agree to your request, we will do so in writing and abide by them except in emergencies.

2. The Right to choose how Family Paths, Inc. sends your PHI. You have the right to ask that Family Paths, Inc. send information to an alternative address (for example, sending information to your work address rather then your home address) or by alternate means (for example, e-mail instead of regular mail). Family Paths, Inc. must agree to your request so long as we can easily provide PHI to you in the format you requested.

3. The Right to see and get copies of your PHI. In most cases, you have the right to obtain copies of your PHI, but you must make the request in writing. If Family Paths, Inc. does not have your PHI but knows where it is, we will provide you with that information. Family Paths, Inc. will respond to you within 30 days of receiving your written request. In certain situations, we may deny your request. If your request is denied, we will tell you the reason in writing. If you request copies of your PHI, we will charge you not more then $0.25 for each page. Family Paths, Inc. may provide you with a summary or explanation of the PHI as long as you agree to that and to the cost in advance.

4. The Right to get a list of the disclosures Family Paths, Inc. has made regarding your PHI. You have the right to request a list of disclosures made of your PHI. The list will not include uses or disclosures made for treatment, payment, or health care operations. The list will not include uses and disclosures made for law enforcement purposes or disclosures made before April 15th, 2003. Family Paths, Inc. will respond to your request within 60 days. The list will include disclosures made in the last six years unless those disclosures were before April 14th, 2003. Family Paths, Inc. will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more then one request in the same year, we will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.

5. The Right to correct or update your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI or that a piece of important information is missing, you have the right to request that Family Paths, Inc. correct the existing information or add the missing information. You must provide the request and your reason for the request in writing. We will respond within 60 days of receiving your request to correct or update your PHI. We may deny your request in writing if the PHI is (i) correct and complete, (ii) not created by Family Paths, Inc., (iii) not allowed to be disclosed, or (iv) not part of Family Paths, Inc.’ records. Written denial will state the reasons for the denial and explain your right to file a written statement of disagreement with the denial. If you don’t file one, you have the right to ask that your request and Family Paths, Inc.’ denial be attached to all future disclosures of your PHI. If Family Paths, Inc. approves your request, we will make the changes to your PHI, notify you and others that need to know of the change to your PHI.

6. The Right to get this notice by e-mail. You have the right to receive a copy of this notice by e-mail. Even if you have agreed to receive notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy.

C: HOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FAMILY PATHS, INC. PRIVACY PRACTICES

If you think that Family Paths, Inc. may have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision Family Paths, Inc. made about access to your PHI, you may file a complaint with the person listed in Section D below. You may also send a written complaint to the Secretary of the Department of Health of Human Services at 200 Independence Avenue S. W. Washington, D.C. 20201. Family Paths, Inc. will take no retaliatory action against you if you file a complaint.

D: WHO TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS NOTICE OR TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FAMILY PATHS, INC. PRIVACY PRACTICES

If you have any questions about this notice or any complaints about Family Paths, Inc. privacy practices, or would like to know how to file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, please contact the Family Paths, Inc. Privacy Officer at 510-893-9230.

About Us

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