CARES Advocacy is a program founded and ran by Erin Langs in partnership with WeBelong Institute, and teaches how to recognize when someone may be struggling, whether a teen, family member, or colleague; how to offer safe, stigma-free support; and how to know when it’s time to involve a trusted adult, professional, or organizational resource.

PROGRAMS

FOR TEENS & SCHOOLS

Teen Mental Health First Aid: 
Practical skills to support peers and build resilience in school communities.

Middle School
Mental Health Education:
Early awareness and tools to help younger students navigate challenges safely.

FOR PARENTS & FAMILIES

Parent Education Events:
Guidance for recognizing warning signs, starting conversations, and supporting youth at home.

FOR COMPANIES & ORGANIZATIONS

Workplace & Family
Mental Health Training:
Tools for organizations to support employees, address their own challenges, and foster healthier, more productive communities.

ABOUT ERIN LANGS

Erin began her journey into wellness as an undergraduate at UC San Diego’s Revelle College, where she earned a degree in Psychology with a focus on autism. After a successful career in hotel sales and marketing while raising two children, a decade-long personal health crisis and the global pandemic brought her back to her passion for community health and wellbeing.

In 2013, a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis deeply affected Erin’s family, leaving her two young sons to navigate the challenges of trauma. Through that experience—and later witnessing the pandemic’s emotional toll on socially isolated students—CARES Advocacy was born. Erin’s mission is to support students, educators, and organizations that value mental health, emotional resilience, and family wellbeing through accessible education and advocacy.

Today, Erin lives in San Diego with her husband, and her now–young adult sons visit often. When she’s not leading a class or facilitating professional development workshops, you can find her playing tennis, padel, or pickleball, walking along the beach, or enjoying live music whenever possible.