Category Archives: Announcement
DORIS ESTREMERA RECEIVES COMMENDATION
Congratulations to Doris Estremera who recently received a commendation for the Women in County Government Award nomination for outstanding commitment and service to the people of San Mateo County. Doris currently works with the BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) and provides oversight, planning and reporting of our Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding.
Doris started her work in the county 16 years ago as an outreach worker. In her current role, Doris’ unwavering commitment to equity, community-centered practices, and adaptive leadership style are a few of the many ways she makes us “All Together Better” and advances us towards realizing the County’s Shared Vision 2025, particularly a Healthy Community, a Prosperous Community and Collaborative Community.
She worked diligently to lead an inclusive MHSA Innovations processes that yielded more community ideas on how to improve behavioral health in our county than previously received. She also spearheaded a Coastside Community Needs Assessment that will directly feed into a new community program for an especially vulnerable community in our County. In this work she led an all Latina team, honoring the importance of language and culture in our care. Additionally, she worked tirelessly on updating and expanding the information provided in our BHRS Cultural Competence Plan, while prioritizing collaboration in all that she does.
Lastly, Doris stepped in as Interim Director of the Office of Diversity and Equity, while also continuing to maintain her responsibilities as the MHSA Manager. Doris is a clear example of why it is so important to have women in government and in leadership roles. She continually strives to 1) improve the health of San Mateo County residents, with prevention and treatment services for those with a severe mental illness through MHSA prioritization; and 2) create a more livable county through her involvement with policy and systems change.
She is also a working mom, a fitness instructor, and a serves as role model for a life dedicated to the service of others.
Parent Project Spring 2020 Schedule
The Parent Project® is a free, 12-week course that is offered in English and Spanish to anyone who cares for a child or adolescent. The classes meet for three hours each week. Parents learn parenting skills and get information about resources and other support available in their communities. Parents/caregivers learn and practice skills such as:
- appropriate ways to discipline
- preventing or stopping alcohol, drug and tobacco use
- improving communication skills
- improving grades and school attendance
For more information about the Parent Project, please visit www.smchealth.org/parentproject.
The Parent Project is coordinated by the Office of Diversity and Equity. To learn more about the Office of Diversity and Equity, please visit www.smchealth.org/ode.
Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is looking for new interns!
San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) is a comprehensive county behavioral health services program dedicated to serving the needs of adults with serious mental illness and/ or co-occurring substance abuse concerns, as well as severely emotionally disturbed youth and their families. Services offered to children, adolescents, adults, and other adults in inpatient, outpatient, and outreach programs by multidisciplinary staff that includes psychologists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, MFT’s trainees, interns and peer support positions. BHRS provides clinical training opportunities to students pursuing their masters’ degree, their Alcohol and Drug Certification, or their doctorate.
Cultural Competency stipends are available for those who are to help provide services to marginalized communities within our system of Older Adult, Adult, and Youth Services and are selected to participate in our Cultural Stipend Intern Program (CSIP).
More information about the internship program can be found here.
About the Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE)
The Office of Diversity and Equity is dedicated to addressing health disparities, health inequities and stigma in the areas of mental health and substance use, and supporting wellness and recovery among underserved, unserved, and inappropriately served communities in San Mateo County. ODE works to achieve these goals by promoting cultural competence and cultural humility, which are rooted in principles of social justice. To learn more about ODE’s work, visit www.smchealth.org/bhrs/ode.
Suicide Loss Support Groups at Mission Hospice
People who have lost a loved one to suicide often have unique and challenging aspects of their grief experience. We offer two types of support groups to give adults and mature teens a chance to share their story, support each other, and work through the specific grief needs of suicide loss. Facilitated by Isabel Stenzel, LCSW and Mary Balmana, RN.
8- week closed, structured group (twice yearly) — Next session: Wednesdays, March 25 – May 13, 2020, 6-7:30pm.
Monthly, ongoing group — 3rd Thursday of the month, 6-7:30pm.
Mission Hospice, 1670 S. Amphlett Blvd., Suite 300, San Mateo
FREE! Space is limited – registration is required. For more info or to register, contact Isabel Stenzel at 650-930.8236 or istenzel@MissionHospice.org.
2020 Mental Health Awareness Month Planning Committee – Meeting Schedule
Please save-the-date for our upcoming planning meetings for 2020 May Mental Health Awareness Month. The meetings will be on Thursdays 10:30am-12pm at Millbrae Library – Rm B, 1 Library Avenue, Millbrae CA 94030 for the dates below. Please see attached meeting schedule for more details. If you are interested in hosting an event, let’s touch base before the next meeting to start looking into dates/times/locations/topics for the events.
- 12/12/2019
- 1/9/2020
- 2/13/2020
- 3/12/2020
- 4/9/2020
- 6/4/2020
Thank you to San Mateo County Libraries and Peninsula Library System for partnering with us for the second time for MHAM. And special thank you to Kajah Ram for graciously providing us a space to meet at Millbrae Library.
For more information, please visit smchealth.org/mentalhealthmonth or contact Sylvia Tang at STang@smcgov.org.
Reimagine SamTrans — Please Help Diversify the Feedback!
SamTrans launched Reimagine SamTrans, a transformative study that will examine each route in the SamTrans bus system in light of changing travel patterns. Reimagine SamTrans will consider everything from customer experience, to route design, to how often buses run, to efficient and effective operations and practice. SamTrans needs your feedback on this critical effort!
Take the Reimagine Survey: Whether you ride the bus, drive, walk, bike or other we want to hear from you. Share your vision for a future SamTrans network. Visit https://www.reimaginesamtrans.com/survey to take this fun short survey. Survey closes December 31, 2019.
Share your feedback in-person: SamTrans staff are in the field at bus stops, farmers markets and community meetings. A full list of events is available on the website and if you miss them in-person, you can always leave a comment. To learn more about the project and events go to www.reimaginesamtrans.com.
Social media: SamTrans wants your input to Reimagine SamTrans service. Take the survey, join an event, or submit a comment and make your voice heard! Whether you take the bus, drive, walk, bike or other share your vision for a future SamTrans network. Visit www.reimaginesamtrans.com
Please share with your networks so we may diversify the feedback.
In community,
The Office of Diversity and Equity
Transgender Day of Remembrance 2019 -11/20
Our annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event will be taking place on Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 from 5:00pm-8:00pm. We will begin with a Candlelight Vigil & Procession at Redwood City Courthouse Square at 5:00pm, which will lead to our program following shortly after in the Community Room at Redwood City Public Library from 6:30pm-8:00pm. During the program, we will hear from community speakers, share resources and learn about actions we can all take to stand in solidarity against anti-transgender violence.
In 2019 so far, there are at least 25 transgender and gender nonconforming community members whom we have lost to anti-transgender violence. With this gathering, we aim to provide a space for communal healing, to celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost and to commit to fighting against discrimination and violence that our transgender community faces.
Please see the attached flyer for more information and share widely with your networks.
This event is brought to the community by the LGBTQ Commission , PRIDE Initiative, The San Mateo County Pride Center, African American Community Initiative, BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity, CORA and the Redwood City Public Library.
North County Clinic Opens its Doors
Youth in North County can now receive services at the new BHRS Youth Clinic. The clinic is officially open at:
350 90th Street 2nd Flr, Daly City, CA 94015
Ph: (650) 301-8650, Fax: (650) 877-5486.
10/10/19 is World Mental Health Day!
Join us in taking “40 seconds of action” to raise awareness and help prevent suicide. You can start by knowing the signs, finding the words and reaching out. More information at smchealth.org/SuicidePrevention. #WorldMentalHealthDay #SuicidePrevention #BeTheOneSMC