Chinese Health Initiative Rings In the Year of the Horse!

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The Chinese Health Initiative (CHI) hosted its annual Chinese New Year celebratory in-person meeting on Friday, February 13, 2026 honoring the Year of the Horse. Community members, CHI participants, and partners came together to celebrate the holiday in a space that uplifted culture, community connection, and shared learning. Participants were invited to share their lived experiences and family traditions for observing Chinese New Year, creating opportunities for storytelling, reflection, and cultural exchange. The event also introduced CHI members to Stephanie Chen, a professional Chinese movement dancer, who performed traditional dances and shared insights into the cultural significance of the art form, and facilitated a group activity inviting participants to learn and practice simple movements together.

The celebration provided space for community members to connect, learn from one another, and honor cultural traditions. Events like this help foster belonging, strengthen community partnerships, and support culturally responsive engagement.

Written by Tia Bell, BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity, Health Equity Initiative Coordinator

Pacific Islander Initiative Hosts Free Teen Mental Health First Aid

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The Pacific Islander Initiative of San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, in partnership with community collaborators, recently hosted a three-day Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) Certification Training for youth ages 14–18, creating a space that felt not only educational but deeply meaningful, culturally grounded, and connected. This free, three-part certification series held between February 25th and February 27th equips teens with the knowledge and skills to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their peers. The energy in the room was inspiring, full of curiosity, courage, and a strong commitment to caring for one another. One moment captured the heart of the evening when a youth participant shared that he attended because his senior passion project focuses on youth mental health, and he was excited to see how the certification would shape both his project and his future goals. Moments like this remind us that when young people are given tools, language, and support, they step into leadership with purpose.

This work is especially important within Pacific Islander communities, where behavioral health disparities, including stigma, underutilization of services, cultural barriers, and delayed access to care, continue to impact families. By increasing mental health literacy and building peer-to-peer support networks, Teen Mental Health First Aid helps ensure youth can recognize concerns early and connect to trusted adults and culturally responsive services, getting care when it is needed, not only when a crisis occurs. More than certification, this training strengthens prevention, reduces stigma, promotes healing, and fosters wellness rooted in community care. It is an investment in a generation that leads with empathy, cultural pride, and the confidence to seek and support mental health care, helping our youth and families live longer, healthier, and more connected lives.

Written by Tia Bell, BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity

BHRS Director’s Newsletter – March 2026

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Please see the latest issue of the Director’s Newsletter from BHRS Director, Dr. Jei Africa! 

Topics include:  

  • Substance Use Treatment Services at the Navigation Center
  • BHRS Reaches a Milestone in Cultural Humility Training
  • San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission Prepares for 2026 Transitions
  • Building Community Behavioral Health Foundation for Medi-Cal Billing
  • Upcoming Events, Announcements and News

Find past issues here. Visit the BHRS website. 

Spanish Parent Project Class Starting 2/10

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We are happy to announce that on Tuesday, February 10th we will be launching our in-person Spanish class taking place in Redwood City. To register, you can contact CARON’s, Jose Aguirre at jaguirre@smcgov.org & (650) 802-5044. For more details, please see the flyer below. Please note, this class is only in Spanish.  

PP CARON Spring 26 Spanish class 2.10.26 UPDATED (1)Download

BHRS Reaches a Milestone in Cultural Humility Training

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In February 2026, San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) will celebrate a major milestone by holding its 100th Cultural Humility 101 training, reflecting years of sustained commitment to building a workforce grounded in reflection, respect, and culturally responsive care. Cultural Humility is one of BHRS’ mandated and foundational trainings, supporting staff in lifelong learning, recognizing and addressing power imbalances, and strengthening relationships with the diverse communities we serve. This work is central to effective behavioral health care and is deeply aligned with the BHRS Transformation Journey, Multicultural Organizational Development (MCOD), and Targeted Strategies 4.0 (TS 4.0), ensuring equity, accountability, and healing-centered practice are embedded across our systems. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Cultural Humility 101 training cohort, whose years of dedication and leadership have helped train and shape BHRS’ workforce and embed Cultural Humility into everyday practice across the organization.

This milestone also follows BHRS’ recent hosting of its first Cultural Humility 102 training, recognized by Dr. Melanie Tervalon, co-founder of the Cultural Humility framework, as the first of its kind nationally. Cultural Humility 102 was created in direct response to staff voice, where staff consistently shared that they wanted more than an introduction and were seeking practical ways to bring Cultural Humility alive in their work, relationships, and daily lives. This advanced training deepens practice by focusing on real-world application, organizational culture, and power dynamics, and by strengthening accountability at both individual and institutional levels. It also includes exclusive video insights from Dr. Tervalon reflecting on the evolution and future of the framework. We thank the Cultural Humility 102 Planning Committee for designing this training with such insight, care, and intentionality. Due to strong interest and impact, Cultural Humility 102 will be offered again in late summer 2026, continuing BHRS’ commitment to making Cultural Humility not just training, but a lived practice.

Written by Dr. Maria Lorente Foresti, Directors of BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity

Draft BHSA Three Year Integrated Plan for fiscal years 2026-2029 Now Available for Review

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The draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three Year Integrated Plan for fiscal years 2026-2029 is now available for review on the MHSA and BHSA transition websites.

The draft IP will be available for review and public comment for a minimum of 30 days through Friday, March 6th, 2026. Community members are encouraged to read and submit feedback on the draft IP, as follows:

BHRS Director’s Newsletter – February 2026

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Please see the latest issue of the Director’s Newsletter from BHRS Director, Dr. Jei Africa! 

Topics include:  

  • Overdose Prevention Coalition Launches Naloxone Program, Expands Free Access in County
  • Senate Bill 43 Launches, CARE Court Expands in San Mateo County
  • Transformation Journey Update
  • Upcoming Events and More News

Find past issues here. Visit the BHRS website. 

Draft BHSA 3-Yr Integrated Plan coming out soon

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Hello BHSA Taskforce and community members,

We are pleased to announce that the draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three Year Integrated Plan (IP) for fiscal years 2026-2029 will be presented at the Behavioral Health Commission (BHC) on Wednesday, February 4th. The draft IP will be available for review and public comment for a minimum of 30 days through Friday, March 6th, 2026. Community members are encouraged to read and submit feedback on the draft IP, as follows:

Additionally, community members are welcome to attend the BHC meeting on February 4th to hear the presentation on the draft plan. You may attend in-person or via Zoom. Meeting information is provided below, as well as some quick tips for how to give public comment at a public meeting:

Behavioral Health Commission
Wednesday, February 4th 3:30-5:30pm
2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Room 201, San Mateo, CA 94403
Zoom link: https://smcgov.zoom.us/j/94275521280?pwd=ZnRUTDFSMGI5VVVPTkdiS3NaZW9MQT09
Passcode: 457259

Quick Tips – How to Give Public Comment at a public meeting

Chinese Health Initiative Co-Chair Inducted Into San Mateo County 2026 Women’s Hall of Fame

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News header-blue gradient   Jan. 15, 2026 For Immediate Release Five Leaders, One Honor: San Mateo County Names 2026 Women’s Hall of Fame Class   Redwood City – Raised by her immigrant mother, Alyson Suzuki learned early how difficult it can be for families to navigate schools and social services when information is not available in their own language or cultural context. Through years of supporting her family and later working in education and social services, she saw firsthand how those barriers can hold families back and limit opportunity. That experience shaped her commitment to changing how systems serve communities. Today, she leads efforts across San Mateo County to strengthen language access and build durable support systems for Asian families and other underserved communities. Suzuki’s efforts will be celebrated on March 6, when she is honored alongside four other inductees in the 2026 class of the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame. The other honorees include leaders whose work has unfolded in city halls, community organizations and classrooms, as well as two high school students whose initiatives reflect the next generation of civic leadership. They are Andrea Jones, whose career centers on advancing the well-being of children and families; Terry Nagel, a community leader, former mayor and tireless volunteer in Burlingame; and two high school seniors, Danika Gonzalez Johnston of Half Moon Bay High and Amani Shroff of Carlmont High. Read More   Want to read more articles? View our Newsroom   Connect with us! facebooktwitterlinkedininstagramyoutubenextdoor   CEO-Comms logo                                         smc_news@smcgov.org

2/21- 2026 Black History Month Educational Experience

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Mark your calendars! African American Community Initiative (AACI) is hosting their 2026 Black History Month celebration! This year’s event will be an educational experience: a tour of the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum & Learning Center in Redwood City. 

Registration is required for this event. See more info below. 

Date: Sat, 2/21/26
Time: 12:00PM- 3:00PM PST
Location: Domini Hoskins Black History Museum & Learning Center (890 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City)
Contact: Dee Pennix at AACIInitiative@gmail.com

Media Notice: 

This event will have photography and videography. Your entrance into the event area constitutes your full consent to being filmed and photographed by the County of San Mateo. The County of San Mateo reserves the right to use any photography or film taken in the event area
without providing compensation to you. Such use by County may include, but is not limited to, postings to social media or websites, and/or use in promotional or informational materials in any medium.

You agree to release and discharge the County of San Mateo, its agents, representatives, assigns, and licensees from all claims, demands, and liabilities arising out of or in connection with the use of your likeness.

Alternatively, if you wish to participate/attend the event, but do not wish to have your photograph used in accordance with the above notice, please contact an Event Organizer. 

Registration Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026BHM

About AACI:

The mission of the African American Community Initiative is to become a known resource for African American Community members facing challenges with finding and utilizing mental health services, while addressing inequalities faced by African Americans in our county.  Our vision is to build a community driven support system for reducing mental health and substance use treatment disparities, and the stigma of mental illness.
 
Learn more about their work here. 

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