By Carla Thomas

Located at 1701 Ocean Ave. in San Francisco, the OMI Family Center has built its reputation on one guiding principle: providing behavioral health care that reflects the culture, experiences, and resilience of the people it serves. From trauma-informed counseling to mobile outreach, OMI has become a vital resource for San Francisco’s diverse communities.

At the San Francisco Hip Hop Festival last month, mental healthcare worker, Ebony Atlas engaged attendees on the importance of mental health and resources in the San Francisco area. Representing the OMI Family Center’s IMANI program, Atlas says she strives to meet the needs of the African American community by providing compassionate and culturally relevant health care.

Meeting community needs, OMI offers a comprehensive range of services, including assessments, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, case management, medication support, and wellness activities. Each program is designed to foster recovery while honoring cultural identity.

Offering specialized programs with a purpose, one of OMI’s most impactful initiatives is I Move A Nation Independently (IMANI), which provides care tailored to the unique experiences of Black and African American members. By centering cultural identity, IMANI helps participants find empowerment along with healing.

“Every person’s situation is different, and that’s why we focus on culturally congruent care,” said Atlas, a health care worker at OMI. “When you see and hear someone in the context of their own culture, the healing process becomes more authentic and effective.”

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For individuals with co-occurring developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, OMI offers The Anchor Program, a partnership with the Golden Gate Regional Center. This program ensures specialized, coordinated care for clients who often face complex barriers.

Recognizing that not all clients can make it to regular appointments, OMI created its Mobile Outreach Team. This team meets clients wherever they are, whether at home, in a neighborhood, or another safe space ensuring that mental health care remains accessible.

“Our Mobile Outreach Team isn’t just about showing up,” Atlas explained. “It’s about building trust, step by step. Sometimes the first meeting isn’t about mental health at all, it’s about letting people know we care enough to meet them on their terms.”

Beyond treatment, OMI also invests in clients’ futures through Pre-Vocational Services. These sessions help participants develop soft skills and prepare for vocational programs, offering a bridge to independence and employment.

With staff fluent in English and Spanish, and interpreter services available in other languages, OMI ensures no one faces barriers to care.

“Our mission is the belief that healing is more than clinical care, it’s about restoring dignity, trust, and hope,” Atlas said. “When someone leaves here feeling seen, heard, and supported, that’s when we know we’ve done our job.” For more information call 888-246-3333.

This article is supported by the California Black Health Journalism Project, a program created by California Black Media, that addresses the top health challenges African Americans in California face. It relies on the input of community and practitioners; an awareness of historical factors, social contexts, and root causes; and a strong focus on solutions as determined by policymakers, advocates, and patients.

Carla Thomas

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