Every three years, Sequoia Hospital conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand the health and social issues that matter most to our community. As part of this effort, we’ve created a short and simple survey, available in both English and Spanish, for community members to share their thoughts.
We’re reaching out again to kindly ask for your help in spreading the word! Their feedback is invaluable—it will guide where we focus our programs and support, ensuring we address the real needs of those we serve. The survey only takes a few minutes, and every voice truly makes a difference. The survey will end on Friday, January 31st.
Please feel free to share the attached flyer with your members and networks. It includes a QR code for easy access to the survey in both English and Spanish. You can also share the direct links below:
In December 2024, San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services(BHRS) submitted a comprehensive three-year Cultural Competency Plan, showcasing our ongoing efforts to support our diverse communities through culturally and linguistically responsive services. This annual requirement, set by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), helps us track and reflect on our progress in advancing behavioral health equity across our system.
Key areas of focus in the report include our commitment to cultural competence as a system of care, strategies for reducing disparities, efforts to grow a multicultural workforce, and enhancing language capacity to better serve our community. Additionally, the plan highlights our dedication to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and trauma-informed systems within our organization.
This submission highlights the trends, challenges, and accomplishments of BHRS during fiscal years 2021 through 2024—a period marked by significant transitions as we collectively recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, welcoming new leadership, and prepare for statewide systemic changes.
We recognize this report reflects the lived experiences, needs, and resilience of the individuals and families we serve. These stories are a testament to the strength of our communities and the importance of equitable access to care. We also recognize the dedication and hard work of our BHRS team members and partnering organizations, whose efforts have a direct and meaningful impact on advancing equity and fostering healing within our communities.
Thank you, BHRS, for your unwavering commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, and belong in behavioral health care. Together, we are making a difference.
Last Fall, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity and Equity (BHRS ODE) hosted 3 Parent Project® classes. In partnership with StarVista, we hosted on virtual English class, facilitated by Ivan Marquez and Jackie Cisneros and one virtual Spanish class facilitated by Leonela Zavalza and Karen Palomino Velazquez. This semester we also began our partnership with Community Alliance to Revitalize Our Neighborhoods (CARON), where we collaborated to host one in-person Spanish Course at the Half Moon Bay Library. We are beyond thrilled to have celebrated 61 new official Parent Project® graduates, and 13 participants, ultimately serving 74 parents and caregivers of San Mateo County!
This semester featured a lot of notable highlights for the Parent Project® program, one of them being that all of our classes received a presentation from Alcohol and Other Drug’s (AOD) department’s Dr. Ronni Brown, Alex Perez, and Gabriel Lemus. The AOD Overdose Education & Response educated parents on the dangers of fentanyl, how to recognize an overdose, how to utilize Narcan, and how to access BHRS’ substance use services. AOD even distributed Narcan and Fentanyl test strips to our Parent Project® participants. The Office of Diversity and Equity would like to thank the AOD team for supporting the parents and caregivers of San Mateo County! In addition, BHRS ODE provided our general presentation introducing BHRS, our office at ODE, the Health Ambassador Program, as well as how to access Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. For the first time in Parent Project history, we had the Health Ambassadors, Cynthia Castro and Amada Espinoza, facilitate a Know the Signs Workshop, with the support of ODE’s Health Education Associate, Maria Martinez. Know the Signs is a training where participants learn to recognize the signs of suicide in another individual, and how to approach this concern via conversation and appropriate (BHRS) resources. We are so thankful to our Health Ambassador Program for helping our Parent Project® participants to initiate their journey to becoming prospective Health Ambassadors by providing a Know the Signs workshop at one of our Parent Project classes!
Finally, thank you to our partners at StarVista for celebrating our Parent Project® graduates and participants with in-person graduations featuring family activities and holiday raffles for Parent Project® participants to enjoy. We would also like to thank CARON for their in-person graduation featuring resources tables and presentations from the Half Moon Bay Library, Sheriff’s Activity League, Coastside Hope, City of Half Moon Bay, and San Mateo County’s Office of Community Affairs, and even a special visit from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, therapy dog, Maverick!
Here at BHRS ODE, we wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you at our Spring 2025 semester of Parent Project coming soon.
Written by Nicoletta Kelleher, Parent Project Coordinator
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (In-Person)
ASIST is a two-day in person interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may be at risk for suicide and work with them to create a plan to support their immediate safety. Skills learned in one environment are transferable to others, creating a life-saving impact across the community.
This course is offered by San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity:
Dedicated to empowering youth and families in underserved communities through evidence-based mental health training, Kingdom Love LLC focus is on strengthening family and community connections by providing accessible, skill-based education that fosters a shared understanding for prevention and early intervention.
To learn more and register for upcoming trainings, visit:
This is a two-hour foundational workshop that infuses culture and diversity throughout. The County offers a Mental Health version and a Suicide Prevention version.MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
This is an eight-hour skills-based training course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health or substance uses signs or crises. The County offers a youth and adult version of this workshop.
For more information about both trainings above, please contact: Sylvia Tang stang@smcgov.org
CALL TO ACTION!
We have the power to make a difference. By spreading awareness, providing support, and advocate for change, we can help people create aa world where they feel seen, heard, and supported. Here are ways you can help:
Actively participate in the next SPC meeting:
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, 1:30pm – 3:00pm Web Browser: https://zoom.us/j/410362485 (Meeting ID: 410 362 485) One-Tap Phone: +16699006833,,410362485# Phone (dial-in): +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 410 362 485
Invite Someone New! Ask new stakeholder, partner, agency, organization, community member to join the SPC mailing list.
Announcements? Have an important commission meeting? Upcoming event you would like to highlight? Send an email by the second Tuesday of each month for co-chairs review to:walter.ng@star-vista.org
QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK? READY TO GET INVOLVED? CONTACT US!
Sylvia Tang, MPP (She/Her) Community Health Planner San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) stang@smcgov.org (650) 208 – 5799
The County of San Mateo’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity is happy to announce that we have two new interns for this year! Our interns are passionate, driven, and experienced in advancing equity, wellness, and prevention for culturally diverse underserved/unserved populations. Our interns and their respective work areas include:
Michelle Armand (She/Her) – Workforce Education and Training
My name is Michelle Armand, and I’m an intern for the Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) from September 2024 to June 2025. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Diverse Community Development and Leadership from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and I hold a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from UCLA.
Over my academic and career journey, I have always been driven to advance health equity—especially in terms of correcting injustices in underprivileged areas. Through my profession in healthcare, I have had the honor of serving Los Angeles County’s most underprivileged populations, therefore strengthening my resolve to guarantee fair access to high-quality treatment. This internship provides a valuable opportunity to connect that passion with the practical skills needed to make a difference in the behavioral health field, and I’m excited to contribute to the Workforce, Education, and Training (WET) program.
During my time here, I will be focusing on learning more about workforce development, cultural humility, and the intersection of mental health and equity. I’m thrilled to work with a team that’s committed to creating meaningful change, and I’m eager to both share my perspectives and gain new insights that will help me grow, not just professionally, but personally.
I’m happy to be working with impactful, empathetic, and bold collaborative team of leaders who not only provide space and listen to me and my fellow interns but also to the San Mateo community. We are working together right now to compile data on how San Mateo County could fight the present epidemic of loneliness that so many people all around are experiencing.
Sharing my ideas and learning more about what ODE has to offer to develop not only professionally but also personally will be interesting. It is an honor to help serve not only this organization but this community. Thank you all for your time and don’t forget to be kind to one another.
A fun fact about me: I’m a creative soul who loves to express myself through cooking and art.
Hello! My name is Frankie, and I am an intern for the Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE). I recently graduated from University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Specialization in Clinical Psychology.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and I truly appreciate the diversity that comes with living here. Being immersed in such a variety of cultures has deepened my understanding and appreciation of them.
Throughout my career, I’ve gained valuable experience in roles such as a behavior specialist, eating disorder counselor, and mental health peer educator. Currently, I work full-time as a Crisis Intervention Specialist for CARES, where I assist law enforcement with mental health crises along the coast side.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring new coffee spots, going to the beach, and baking.
For this internship, I’ll be focusing on suicide prevention and stigma reduction, areas I’m deeply passionate about. I’m excited to contribute to such an amazing team and continue my work in the mental health field.
About the Internship Program The Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) Internship Program is designed to provide work opportunities and practical learning experience for undergraduate and graduate students to enhance their academic preparation and expose them to public service at the county level. This program is offered every fiscal year from September to June. Interns work 20-hours per week and are paid with a stipend funded by the Mental Health Services Act.
About the Office of Diversity and Equity The Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) advances health equity in behavioral health outcomes of marginalized communities throughout San Mateo County. ODE works to empower communities; influence policy and system changes; develop strategic and meaningful partnerships; and promote workforce development and transformation within the County’s behavioral health service system.
The George Culores Hall of Fame award recognizes consumer/clients who have made contributions to better the lives of other consumer/clients; shown leadership in the consumer movement or have a personal journey of recovery that inspires and gives hope to others.
Deadline to submit a nomination form is January 10, 2025.
Learn more about the George Culores Hall of Fame Award here.
Our next MHSA Steering Committee meeting is on Thursday, December 5th. Please note that this is a hybrid meeting. For those who want to join in person, we will be meeting at the San Mateo Library (55 W 3rd Ave in San Mateo). The Zoom link is included below if you prefer to join virtually and the phone line for those conferencing in.
Meeting flyer is attached. The latest information for MHSA can always be found on the MHSA website, http://www.smchealth.org/MHSA, under the “Announcements” tab.
Proposed Agenda:
Announcements:
MHSA Program Outcomes Workgroup
BHSA (Prop 1) Transition Next Steps
San Mateo County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
Meeting Details:
San Mateo Library, Laurel Room, 55 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo
Over 180 attendees joined Samoan Solutions and Pacific Islander Initiative in celebrating their 14th Annual 5K Turkey Trot this past weekend! Held on Saturday, 11/16/24, the event brought the community together to run the Turkey Trot to promote physical activity and wellness during the holiday season. In addition to the 5K run/walk, the event offered a variety of physical and behavioral health resources including Naloxone boxes for opioid prevention, Pacific Islander suicide prevention resources, an on-site chiropractor, free Hep B testing, and more! Since it’s inception this event has served as a space where participants can connect with health and social services, as well as Pasifika businesses, and the community.
The Turkey Trot featured several categories, including adult, youth, and team groupings where winners were awarded a $20 gift card. The event provided a fun and inclusive atmosphere, warmly welcoming participants of all ages – even their four-legged family members.
The Pacific Islander Initiative co-hosted the event and shared a variety of Pacific Islander focused resources including Pacific Islander suicide prevention cards, Know Your Rights cards in Tongan, and Pacific Islander Initiative brochures.
Thank you to those who joined us, and we look forward to seeing you again next year!
To learn more about our Health Equity Initiative, visit here. To learn more about our Pacific Islander Initiative, visit here.
The Kapwa Cultural Center (KKC), an important cultural resource to the Filipinx community, opened on October 25th, 2024, in Daly City. This space is dedicated to cultural connection, healing, and community engagement. KKC is funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation funds and supported by San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), the BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE), the Filipino Mental Health Initiative (FMHI) and Daly City Partnership. Together, these programs are committed to promoting behavioral health wellness, cultural awareness, and social inclusivity through this innovative new space.
Rooted in the Filipinx value of kapwa, which means “shared self” or “interconnectedness with others,” KKC aims to foster a strong sense of community, solidarity, and mutual care. KKC will serve as a dynamic cultural hub where community members can gather, learn, and celebrate Filipinx and diverse cultural traditions with a focus on wellness and healing. It will also open its social enterprise arm next year. With a boba milk tea menu inspired by Filipinx cuisine and flavors, as well as a space designed for events, art, and discussion, the Kapwa Cultural Center offers a warm and welcoming environment where people of all backgrounds can come together to exchange stories, ideas, support, and healing.
In addition to its role as a cultural space, KKC will be a dedicated venue for culturally focused behavioral health events, wellness workshops, art exhibits, and community discussions. Through these activities, KKC supports the well-being of individuals and strengthens cultural pride while addressing issues of stigma and barriers to mental health services. BHRS is proud to support the space and support the expertise in culturally responsive behavioral health practices and infusing these important components to KKC’s programming, creating a space that honors and centers Filipinx voices while welcoming diverse communities.
The space will also host a variety of community-led events, including cultural performances, storytelling nights, cooking classes, and wellness activities such as healing circles, all aimed at fostering cultural pride, cross-generational connections, and unity. With its commitment to celebrating diversity and promoting well-being, the Kapwa Cultural Center stands as a powerful example of how community, culture, and behavioral health can come together to create a more inclusive, compassionate society. It is not just a café but a vital resource for behavioral health, cultural connection, and shared identity that will serve as a vibrant gathering place for all.
For more information, please contact kapwasoul@gmail.com
I hope this email finds you all well. I am super excited to share with you an upcoming event that CORA’s LGBTQ+ Program and the San Mateo County PrideCenter are collaborating on. Please share with your teams and within your circles as you see fit. I hope to see some of you there! All ages are welcome.
Join us on Tuesday, December 3rd from 6 – 7:30 pm for our Queering the Season: Mental Health Tools for Holiday Peace Workshop here at CORA in the Carelle Training Room (2205 Palm Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403). Are you concerned about preparing for and navigating the stress of the upcoming holidays? Are you hoping to generate a list of personalized coping tools for yourself to utilize during the holiday season and beyond? Join us for our upcoming holiday coping tool workshop to learn more about taking care of our internal and external being! We will take the time to create a list of our own coping tools and comforts and make bracelets/keychains as a token to remember. This event is created specifically for LGBTQIA+ identifying folks.
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