HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.20.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Exploratory Research and Grant Coordination Opportunities Related to EMOTOBALL and Behavioral Health Support.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying..
From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Cc:Kennelly, Scott; Nuzum, Danielle
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Exploratory Research and Grant Coordination Opportunities Related to EMOTOBALL and Behavioral Health Support
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2026 1:17:53 PM
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Please see Board Correspondence -
Lewis LeeAdministrative Technician - ConfidentialButte County Administration25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965T: 530.552.3326www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov
From: Kathleen Eberhardt <emotoball.press@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 11:32 AM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov>; MHSA, DBH <mhsa@buttecounty.ca.gov>; citycouncil@chicoca.gov
Cc: DBH-QM <DBH-QM@buttecounty.ca.gov>; BCDBH - Forensics <BCDBH-Forensics@buttecounty.ca.gov>; boyerbrian721@gmail.com; jwarrens@comcast.net; Casale, Samuel
<SCasale@buttecounty.ca.gov>; Records, BCSO <BCSORecords@buttecounty.ca.gov>; billy.aldridge@chicoca.gov; Mark.Sorensen@chicoca.gov; Michael Rooney <rooneylawfirm@gmail.com>
Subject: Exploratory Research and Grant Coordination Opportunities Related to EMOTOBALL and Behavioral Health Support
Good morning,
I hope this message finds everyone well.
I am reaching out to briefly open a conversation regarding two separate but potentially complementary areas of work currently under development through Psychonics
Recovery Center and EMOTOBALL.
The first involves exploratory research surrounding EMOTOBALL as a behavioral-health and emotional regulation support tool. The focus is on evaluating whether
emotionally symbolic play objects may assist with stress reduction, emotional accessibility, communication, and cognitive flexibility during periods of tension or
dysregulation.
A brief overview of the mixed-method research framework may be viewed here:
Probability of Triumph for a Statistical Outlier: Psychonics’ EMOTOBALL Mixed Method Study on Emotional Symbolism and Cognitive Flexibility
Probability of Triumph for a Statistical Outlier:
Psychonics’ EMOTOBALL Mixed Method Study
on Emotional Symbolism and Cognitive Flexibility
EBERHARDT.K_RSH910_M1.pdfDownload As a doctoral student research
designer and founder of the emerging discipline of Psychonics, I use AI as
an intentional filtering tool to manage the overwh…
The second involves a recently announced Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funding opportunity related to behavioral-health response systems and support for
frontline personnel:
FY25 De-escalation and Crisis Response Training Program | Bureau of Justice Assistance
FY25 De-escalation and Crisis Response Training
Program | Bureau of Justice Assistance
This funding opportunity supports state, local, and tribal governments,
law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, probation and parole
departments, and sheriff’s departments in developing, implementing, or
expanding de-escalation and crisis
At this time, I fully understand that any formal research collaboration, county participation, city participation, grant partnership, or institutional endorsement would need
to proceed through the appropriate administrative, legal, and supervisory review processes.
My intention at this stage is simply to:
1. open the conversation responsibly,
2. share what I am seeing,
3. familiarize local leadership with the opportunity landscape,
4. and better understand the procedural pathways required for future consideration.
While those conversations and procedural determinations take place, I intend to independently complete and submit the BJA grant application as an exploratory exercise
in awareness, planning, and opportunity identification. My purpose in doing so is not to presume institutional participation, but rather to better understand the structure,
expectations, and practical coordination requirements associated with these emerging federal opportunities.
I also recognize that federal grant timelines often move more quickly than formal meeting cycles, which can make early exploratory communication important even
before official determinations are made.
If any aspect of these ideas eventually gains traction, then the County and/or City can formally determine whether participation aligns with their priorities, procedures,
and capacities.
Thank you all for your time, consideration, and continued service to our community. I appreciate the professionalism and responsiveness many of you have already
shown throughout prior conversations.
Warm regards,
Kathleen Erica Eberhardt, M.Ed.
EdD Candidate & Research Scientist
Psychonics Recovery Center LLC
EMOTOBALL Inventor
530-804-2948
The underlying science is relatively straightforward: emotionally engaging tactile stimulation is known to help calm the nervous system and support clearer thinking,
communication, reflection, and healthier decision-making.
There is a formal intellectual-property filing associated with the device and design framework.
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