💭 Did you know? Communities of color with mental health conditions are less likely to receive mental health services than their white counterparts. Swipe through for some fast facts.
When discussing mental health, we need to inform from an equity lens so that all our communities can thrive. Keep the conversation going, and share one of your cultural wellness practices.
To access the graphics in English and Spanish visit our social media page here.
Top Row: Katelyn C., Chris R., Frieda E., Hudson F., Paul N., Jacki R. Leticia B., Jean P., Chelsea B., Jeff E., Middle Row: Fatima O., Jani D., Nicholas M., Leslie D., Ivette H., Regina M., Dr. Lovella C., Ziomara O., Bottom Row: John B., Charlotte R.
The Tony Hoffman Community Mental Health Services Award recognizes individuals, professionals, businesses, and media who have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of individuals living with mental health challenges and the communities in which they live. This year’s recipients included a diverse group of individuals representing BHRS programs and staff, partner agencies, media outlets, peers and youth leaders. The Board of Supervisors recognized and honored each recipient of the Tony Hoffman Community Mental Health Service Award for making an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with mental health challenges and the San Mateo County community.
1. BHRS Prenatal-to-Three Program staff strive to provide trauma-informed care and resources that improve infant, children and family overall quality of life who often experience stressors associated with financial difficulties, difficult parenting issues, trauma, domestic violence, mental health disorders, and drug and alcohol issues. Regina Moreno, Clinical Services Manager, Dr. Lovella Caluya-Diaz, Adult Psychiatrist, and Ivette Huerta, Unit Supervisor accepted the award on behalf of the program team.
2. Charlotte Rosario is a student in San Mateo who organized an open-mic event at San Mateo Central Park after losing Felipe, an Aragon High School student, to suicide. She is the founder of the community photobooth, a group of young photographers and filmmakers that raise funds for film projects that support mental health. Charlotte is also a member of the Behavioral Health Commission Youth Committee, Youth Action Board.
“When I was 12 years old, I lost my dad to suicide… the more I say it the stronger I get… through this journey my mom has taught me that the way to get through these challenges is by helping others”
– Charlotte R.
3. Fatima Olivares is a BHRS Mental Health Counselor who works with the Homeless Outreach program. She supported the Half Moon Bay community after the tragedy earlier this year. She was part of the Crisis Response Team and spent countless hours assisting families whose primary language is Spanish and who were in need of services and assistance.
On Thursday, April 27th, 2023, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS)hosted the all-staff mandatory Working Effectively with Limited English Proficient Clients & Interpreters in the Behavioral Health Setting training in person for the first time in 3 years! This learning opportunity is integral in engaging workforce members in the current utilization, needs, and importance of interpretation services offered by BHRS. Our language access services assist in reducing the risk of misunderstanding and misdiagnosis and supporting the building of a strong therapeutic alliance with those we serve.
This training was also the last training facilitated by our longtime partner and collaborator Alejandra Siroka of Language Alchemy. Alejandra has worked with BHRS since 2009 to advance language access services by supporting our staff in working with diverse clients and utilizing interpretation services appropriately with a focus on cultural humility. Her work has been essential in our advancement of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS), shaping our BHRS culture to always strive for more equitable services and practices. In addition to providing our staff with practical tools, scenarios, and a historical perspective on the use of interpreters, Alejandra helped us to look deeper into the meaning of culture and how it shapes our communication styles and thought patterns. Thanks to her collaboration with the BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE), this training was continuously tailored and focused on the specific needs and demographics of San Mateo County. Additionally, in 2018, she supported ODE with the creation of training videos that are the first of their kind nationally and exemplify the use of interpreters specifically in behavioral health settings. While we’re incredibly sad to lose Alejandra as a facilitator, we’re so excited for the next chapter in her journey. Alejandra is shifting to support broader communication needs via hosting a podcast and working on a book that will be published in 2024 focused on compassionate communication!
For BHRS, this training will continue to be offered twice a year and required as part of our cultural competence trainings. Our next training is expected to be offered in Fall 2023; more information will be shared as specifics are confirmed.
Please join us in wishing her much success in her future endeavors!
Heart & Soul offers In-Person and Virtual community wellness activities, support groups, and events in Burlingame, Daly City, and San Mateo. Activities are free of charge and are open to all residents of San Mateo County. For information & updates, visit www.heartandsoulinc.org
Community Drop-In Center Location: 1633 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 258,Burlingame, CA 94010
Please Join Heart & Soul in May to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month 2023 and to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
New this Month… – Every Monday: Virtual Drop-In Hours 4:00 – 6:00 pm – Tuesday, May 23: New WRAP Support Virtual Group 3:30 – 5:00 pm – Every Wednesday: Virtual Drop-In Hours 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Wednesday, May 17: Open House 3:00 – 6:00 pm Highlighting speakers from the AAPI Community with lived experience of mental health challenges – Every Thursday: Total Wellness Online 11:00 am – Friday, May 19: New Online Group “Virtual Open House” 7:00 pm
The San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee is hosting below event that is free and open to the public. Please help us spread the word about this opportunity!
MESSAGING MATTERS ANNUAL WEBINAR
Learn safe and effective messaging about suicide prevention
Details: Please join us for this annual webinar “Messaging Matters” to learn more about safe and effective messaging about suicide prevention. Participants will learn about responsible media reporting, how to engage the news media as partners in suicide prevention, and how to create effective suicide prevention materials and talking points. Presentation will be by subject matter expert Stan Collins, Suicide Prevention Specialist with California Mental Health Services Authority Technical Assistance Team. Flyer: View here and attached.
Please help us outreach to all members of our community, especially those who communicate publicly about suicide and suicide prevention. Examples include
Public information officers
Social media managers or influencers
Print media professionals (newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters)
Broadcast media professionals (television, radio)
Journalists and student journalists
Presenters/trainers who present on suicide and suicide prevention
A lot is happening at Heart & Soul throughout the month of April including their Open House on Wednesday, 4/19 from 3pm to 6pm. Click here for their full calendar.
Come celebrate Cesar Chávez on Friday, March 31st from 4pm to 8pm at East Palo Alto Academy (1050 Myrtle St, EPA, 94303). Cesar Chávez was one of the most inspirational labor leaders of the 20th century, with an influence that stretched far beyond the California fields. Join us for free food, raffles, resource connection, speakers and entertainment. Special guest Joaquín Jiménez will be the keynote speaker.
On Saturday, February 18th, San Mateo County Supervisor, David Canepa, hosted a “Caffeinate and Conversate with Canepa” event in Daly City, creating a space for a community conversation on mental health. Following the Half Moon Bay shooting and the recent storms in the Bay Area, it was great having the opportunity to learn from fellow mental health providers andadvocates on accessing and improving mental health resources within San Mateo County.
San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) Director, Dr. Maria Lorente-Foresti and Program Coordinator, Nicoletta Kelleher had the honor of presenting about BHRS services and resources. The presentation focused on Prevention and Early Intervention programs, youth and adult Mental Health First Aid, Workforce Education Trainings, Health Equity Initiatives and more. Throughout the presentation, attendees were referred to BHRS ODE’s program brochures and resources in order to ensure community members could easily access our services. The event also included contributions and resources from valued partners including Christi Morales-Kumasawa and Stephanie Garma Balon from KAPWA Kultural Center and Café, Virginia Chang Kiraly from National Alliance and Mental Illness (NAMI), and Fan Li from North East Medical Services (NEMS).
BHRS ODE is extremely appreciative to have had the opportunity to inform our community of our programs and services. We are grateful to Supervisor David Canepa and his team for inviting us to speak at this event, as well as creating a space for the community to voice their concerns and struggles following the recent traumatic events within our county. We look forward to participating in more events to help build community connections and the opportunity to amplify the voices of our underserved communities in order to make accessing behavioral health services more equitable and inclusive for all.
To learn more about David Canepa’s past and upcoming events, visit his social media pages:
Become a Cultural Humility trainer by learning the teachings of Melanie Tervalon, MD, MPH and Jann Murray-Garcia, MD, MPH, from Briana Evans and support our BHRS Multicultural Organizational Development (MCOD) framework to advance equity, diversity and principles of cultural humility and inclusion in the workplace.
You may only apply if you have already taken Dr. Melanie Tervalon and Dr. Jann Murray-Garcia’s Cultural Humility training as a participant.
It is required that you attend allfive Training of Trainer sessions:
May 24, in-person | 9:30 A.M. – 4 P.M.
May 25, in-person | 9:30 A.M. – 4 P.M.
May 31, virtual | 1 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
June 7, virtual | 1 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
June 21, in-person | 1 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Expectationsupon completion of this training:
Commit to providing a minimum of 3 Cultural Humility trainings (2 of which for BHRS staff) on an annual basis.
Attend the Cultural Humility Cohort meeting every 1st Monday at 10 A.M. where you will dialogue with other facilitators, support one another, and continue growing as a facilitator.
If you are interested to apply, please email KFLui@smcgov.org for application.Deadline to apply is 5/1. Note: Supervisor signature will be required on the application.
Samaritan House’s East Palo Alto location offers hot meals every Friday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. For more information or to preregister for meals, call (650) 294-4312.
For Samaritan House financial resources visit here.
For Samaritan House transportation resources visit here.
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