Author Archives: Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

David Lewis Award Nominations – August 7 Deadline

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The San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission is seeking nominees for its annual David Lewis Award – Recognizing Outstanding Contributions towards Recovery. This honor is made to the individual or organization that has made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with substance abuse disorders and the San Mateo County community. Recognition is given for public education or advocacy around alcohol and other drug abuse issues or to address stigma; services to persons with substance abuse disorders; creation of new and innovative programs or community support activities; recognition of fundraising for substance abuse treatment activities or long-term financial support to substance abuse programs; working for new legislation; compassionate treatment of persons with alcohol and other drug disorders.

Confidentiality of private information is very important. If you are nominating someone who is in recovery, please be sure that they are comfortable revealing their status.

Awards will be presented to honorees at the San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission meeting on September 2, 2015. Deadline for award nominations is August 7, 2015.

If you wish to make a nomination, please click on one of the following links:
David Lewis Award nomination form2015 (Word Document)
David Lewis Award nomination form2015_2 (PDF)

Mental Health First Aid training course sees gains in support, funding

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The California Department of Education received a $1.9 million grant last fall to offer a version of the course that is geared toward teachers, principals, bus drivers and others who work with school-age children to help identify and provide early intervention of mental disorders.

Today, grants totaling $8.6 million are available to state and local governments, universities and nonprofits that want to teach the course. Congress is looking at spending another $19 million to help fund the program in the upcoming budget, while first lady Michelle Obama touted the program last month as a key to “flipping the script” on the national dialogue on mental health.

Santa Clara and San Mateo counties also started offering the class a few years ago. In San Mateo it is taught in several languages, including Spanish, Tagalog, Samoan and Tongan, said Jei Africa, director of the county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity and Equity.

“What we are doing is paying attention to the cultural nuances — so it’s not ‘one-size-fits-all’ teaching,” Africa said.  Read the full story at:  http://www.marinij.com/health/20150420/mental-health-first-aid-training-course-sees-gains-in-support-funding

 

Mental Health Month Happenings

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Attend community events throughout the month to raise awareness and reduce stigma in San Mateo County. The Board of Supervisors will issue a proclamation on April 28 and the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will kick on Mental Health Month with “Stand Up For Mental Wellness” on May 4th. Other events include Lived Experience Panels, a play written by Brian Copeland, Family Awareness Night, and more!  Download the flyer for details: StandUPFlyer2015

ACA affects drug rehab funds: Federal health law causing San Mateo County centers to struggle with demand, resources

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Although the Affordable Care Act implemented sweeping changes to the nation’s health care system that support treatment for those with drug and alcohol addiction, two San Mateo County rehabilitation centers are struggling to provide services as the new law had unintended consequences.

Project 90 and Our Common Ground are struggling as demand is increasing but other funding sources are drying up since many assumed the federal health care system would now pick up the tab.

“We’re getting more and more people applying, but we’ve got less funded space and we’ve been trying to wait for how [the ACA] is going to work itself out, but it’s gotten to the point where we’re going to have to make alterations,” said Jim Stansberry, executive director of the San Mateo-based Project 90.

Read the full story by Samantha Weigel, Daily Journal.

San Mateo County California Clubhouse Seeks Program Staff Generalist

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California Clubhouse is currently seeking a Program Staff Generalist.  The Clubhouse will serve San Mateo County residents living with major mental illnesses who are rebuilding their lives, by providing consistent pathways to opportunity and progress.

RFPs: Senior Peer Counseling Program and After Hours Phone Coverage

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Two new Request for Proposals have been posted for Senior Peer Counseling Program and After Hours Phone Coverage.  See the BHRS RFP page for details.

Suicide Safe by SAMHSA – The Suicide Prevention App for Primary Care and Behavioral Health Providers

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SuicideSafe

Suicide Safe is a suicide prevention learning tool for primary care and behavioral health providers and is based on the nationally recognized Suicide Assessment Five-step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) practice guidelines. Suicide Safe helps providers feel confident to assist patients who present with suicidal ideation. The app offers tips on how to communicate effectively with patients and their families, determine appropriate next steps, and make referrals to treatment and community resources.

Download Suicide Safe on Your iOS® Device

Download Suicide Safe on Your Android™ Device

Wellness Matters – March 2015

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Check out the March issue the BHRS e-journal – Wellness Matters.

WM

Request for Proposal – Child Abuse Treatment Program

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Behavioral Health and Recovery Services has posted a new Request for Proposal for a Child Abuse Treatment Program. More info at: www.smchealth.org/bhrs/rfp.

 

Caltrain, South Bay Communities Work to Reduce Suicides on Train Tracks

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While the overall number of deaths by suicide on the tracks have been on downward trend in the last few years, the recent death of a 15-year-old student in Palo Alto brought the number of deaths by suicide on Caltrain’s right of way in 2015 to seven, one more than all of 2014.  “It tells us we have to keep working at this,” said Stephen Kaplan, director of San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. “We have to extend our reach. We have to make treatment accessible to people.” Read the full story on KQED News.  Learn more about San Mateo County’s Suicide Prevention efforts.

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