We are a group of Alameda County organizations and community members who share a commitment to reducing the number of people with behavioral health needs in Santa Rita Jail. We also fight to prevent the future incarceration of Alameda County residents with behavioral health concerns. We call on the County to divest from the systems that cage and criminalize our community members, and to invest in holistic healthcare, permanent supportive housing, and life-affirming resources that create true safety and healing for Alameda County residents. ​

COALITION WINS

2025 CAMPAIGN DEMANDS

1. Invest in Permanent Supportive Housing
​for justice-involved folks with behavioral health needs ​

2. Invest in holistic community-based behavioral healthcare

3.​ Democratize Alameda County’s budget process

4. Implement and expand ​jail diversion ​

2025 CARE FIRST STRATEGIES

In 2025, CFCC has focused on 3 core strategies in our ongoing fight for decarceration, diversion, a democratic County Budget process, and deeper investments in community-based mental healthcare and housing. Learn more about each strategy below. 

Care First Implementation​

After getting the Care First Jails Last (CFJL) Policy Resolution approved by the Alameda County Supervisors and accompanying the County’s CFJL Task Force through 2024, CFCC members have continued organizing to hold our elected officials accountable to Care First priorities.

In partnership with the County’s Mental Health Advisory Board, CFCC members are helping to shape the future of CFJL policy implementation.
​
Learn more by visiting the Care First Jails Last Policy webpage below. ​

Cfjl pOLICY

Budget Transparency

In 2025, CFCC’s work on the Alameda County Budget focused on ensuring Measure W funding was allocated equitably to address housing and homelessness crises in our county, and increasing transparency in the County Budget process.

​We advocated for investments in the programs and housing resources that reduce criminalization and incarceration, ensuring newly available Measure W funds will support residents who are justice-involved and have behavioral health needs.

​Learn more by visiting the CFCC Budget Campaigns webpage below. 

Budget campaigns

Building People Power

While CFCC has historically focused on advocacy and organizing to influence the Board of Supervisors, we recognize that our advocacy must be accompanied by a base-building effort.

​In 2025, Restore Oakland began leading the work of base-building in Alameda County District 3, bringing everyday community members into the fight for Care First Jails Last. Learn more by visiting Restore Oakland’s website below.

restore oakland

​CARE FIRST JAILS LAST COMMUNITY FORUM
On May 30, 2024, CFCC convened a wide swath of community members for an in person panel and workshop to commemorate the finalization of the Care First Jails Last recommendations. The panelists, including CFCC members and Care First Jails Last Taskforce appointees, laid out their case for The People's Plan, a subset of 25 critical recommendations that ensure the end of chronic homelessness and incarceration in Alameda County. 

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