President's Message — Jennifer Calderon, LMFT, LPCC

Renewed Opportunities for Hope

Welcome to the SFV-CAMFT Chapter’s first newsletter of 2026! As the incoming President of our organization this year, I am humbled to share an opening message that will hopefully serve as both an anchoring perspective and an inspiration for the important work we collectively provide for our respective communities.

As we enter a new year, may we carry forward a renewed sense of hope in the work we do and the communities we serve. The landscape of 2026 brings both meaningful opportunities and pressing challenges for mental health professionals. Rising anxiety and depression rates, the lingering psychosocial effects of global instability & conflicts, the continued strain on school-aged youth, and widening disparities in access to timely and culturally responsive care all demand our sustained attention. Many communities are facing elevated stress related to economic pressures, societal inequities & injustices, and political uncertainty, while frontline practitioners continue to navigate heavy caseloads, compassion fatigue, shifting service delivery models, and potential changes in funding & reimbursement.

Yet, despite these realities, hope remains central to our mission. Each conversation, intervention, and connection strengthens resilience and builds pathways toward healing. This year offers renewed opportunities to elevate marginalized voices, expand integrated care, deepen trauma-informed practice, and cultivate compassionate spaces where individuals and families can thrive. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to advancing well-being in every setting you touch and for continuing to carry hope forward—both for your clients and for one another! Wishing you all the best in 2026!

Jennifer Calderon, LMFT, LPCC is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is a CAMFT Certified Supervisor and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Jennifer has worked in nonprofit community mental health organizations for the past 23 years, is currently the Assistant Director for Transition Age Youth & Family Support Services at San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, Inc., and maintains a private practice in Agoura Hills.