Category Archives: Announcement

Kapwa Kultural Center Officially Opens!

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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

12/3 – Queering the Season: Mental Health Tools for Holiday Peace Workshop

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Hi Community Partners and Collaborators,

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 Pride Center 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.

Please RSVP here https://forms.gle/qVai4c8fuSfxdd8m6

Get Trained in Mental Health First Aid!

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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skill-based training program which helps you understand mental health and substance use matters. As a First Aider, you will identify signs of mental health and substance use matters in people and reach out to provide initial first-aid support. The Mental Health First Aid ALGEE Action Plan gives you the proper tools to support, encourage and connect people to the appropriate resources and treatments.

More info and registration at SMCHealth.org/MHFA.

Upcoming trainings:
In-Person Youth Mental Health First Aid for Tribal Communities and Indigenous Peoples. This is in-person training.
Sat. 11/23/2024 9:00am – 6:00pm
Location: Le Maota, 833 Mahler Road Burlingame, CA

Blended virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid
Tue. 11/26/24 9:00am – 3:30pm

Blended In-Person Adult Mental Health First Aid. This course focuses on adults supporting adults 18 years old and older. This is a blended in-person training course where registrants will need to complete a 2-hour self-paced course, prior to attending in-person on the scheduled date. Registration is required to attend.
Thursday 12/12/24 9:00am – 4:00pm
Location: S. San Francisco

For more information and registration: bit.ly/ThriveMind

Blended virtual Adult Mental Health First Aid. This course focuses on adults supporting adults 18 years old and older. This is a blended virtual training course where registrants will need to complete a 2-hour self-paced course, prior to attending zoom on the scheduled date. Registration is required to attend.
Friday 12/13/24 9:00am – 4:00pm

For more information and registration: bit.ly/ThriveMind

2024 September Suicide Prevention Month + Week

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It’s officially Suicide Prevention Month, and next week is Suicide Prevention Week! Let’s use this time to give people hope and the strategies we all need to prevent suicide. We want to help undo the stigma. Next week, we’ll be posting content and resources so you can know the signs and break the ice when you need to talk.

Also, check out San Mateo County’s free events throughout September for Suicide Prevention Month. They’re free and open to the public, a mix of virtual and in-person. We’d love to see you! Visit our website for more information: https://smcsuicideprevention.com

Upcoming event:
💜9/10: Communal Candle Decorating Workshop at Belmont Library

David Lewis Nomination Deadline Extended to 8/30

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Nomination form for the 2024 David Lewis Award is now open. Deadline to submit nomination form has been extended to August 30th, 2024.

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to substance abuse recovery through successful programs, community education, stigma reduction or client advocacy. David Lewis was a long-term employee of San Mateo County Health. He was the co-founder and president of the Board of Directors of “Free at Last,” a substance abuse treatment and prevention agency in East Palo Alto that seeks to break the cycle of addiction, rebuild families, foster education and economic self sufficiency, and contribute to the health and safety of the community.

Download nomination form below.

David Lewis Award nomination form_fillable_2024

9/5 – MHSA Steering Committee Meeting

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MHSA Steering Committee meetings are open to the public to provide input, make recommendations and stay up-to-date on new MHSA developments and ongoing programming.  The next meeting, details below, will be focused on MHSA updates and Innovation project planning. 

Thursday, September 5, 2024 / 3-4:30pm (Hybrid Meeting)
Location: San Mateo Public Library 
Laurel Room 55 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89224214146
Dial in: +1 669 900 6833 / Mtg ID: 892 2421 4146

MHSA Steering Cmttee Flyer_090524Download

2024 Fall Parent Project Classes

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Hi, all,

Our Parent Project® Fall 2024 semester is finally here! Please help spread the word about our Fall 2024 semester by sharing the flyers attached below with your networks and referring folks to our classes. This semester will feature one virtual English class, beginning on Tuesday, September 10th, and one virtual Spanish class beginning on Wednesday, September 11th.

Community members can refer to the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity’s Parent Project® webpage for more information on our upcoming classes, the all-class flyer, and more. If community members prefer other Parent Project® class options, they can refer to the main Parent Project® website to find virtual or in-person classes in their area.  

If you would like to learn more about the Parent Project® program, or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via my email or phone number at nkelleher@smcgov.org or (650) 649-8411. 

SV Joselyn 9.10 Fall 2024 ENGLISHDownload
SV Joselyn 9.11 Fall 2024 SPANISHDownload

2024 Suicide Prevention Month: Love Over Loneliness

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📅  We are one month away from September Suicide Prevention Month (in addition to Recovery Happens Month)!  

San Mateo County will be joining statewide and nationwide efforts for the following Suicide Prevention Month (SPM) observances. SPM is one of the best times of the year where we can honor those affected by suicide and inspire action to prevent suicide.   

  • Suicide Prevention Month (September)  
  • National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8-14)   
  • World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)  

The 2024 SPM statewide theme is “Love Over Loneliness”. Our San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in January declaring loneliness a public health crisis and pledging to promote social connection in our communities. According to the 2023 San Mateo County Health and Quality of Life Survey, 45% of respondents in San Mateo County were experiencing difficulty with loneliness and isolation. 

Now more than ever it is important that we find ways to connect with one another. Know the signs, find the words, and reach out. 
 
This year, San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity & Equity and San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee lead a variety of virtual and in-person events, advocacy days and communication campaign. For the latest updates on free events and resources, you can visit SMCSuicidePrevention.com.  To help spread this message of hope, you can share our flyer.  

Read more

2024 David Lewis Nomination Form – Deadline 8/16

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Nomination form for the 2024 David Lewis Award is now open. Deadline to submit nomination form is August 16th, 2024.

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to substance abuse recovery through successful programs, community education, stigma reduction or client advocacy. David Lewis was a long-term employee of San Mateo County Health. He was the co-founder and president of the Board of Directors of “Free at Last,” a substance abuse treatment and prevention agency in East Palo Alto that seeks to break the cycle of addiction, rebuild families, foster education and economic self sufficiency, and contribute to the health and safety of the community.

Download nomination form below.

David Lewis Award nomination form_fillable_2024Download

Suicide Prevention Committee Newsletter – August 2024

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The Suicide Prevention Committee (SPC) provides oversight and direction to suicide prevention efforts in San Mateo County. Led by the Office of Diversity and Equity at San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, the committee is comprised of suicide attempt survivors, suicide loss survivors, behavioral health providers, social service providers, local transportation agency staff, and other community members passionate about preventing suicide in our community.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

  • Latest Updates
    • SMC Suicide Prevention Committee Special Session
      • Tuesday, August 20th, 2024 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm
      • Topics
        • San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team presentation of crisis response
        • Suicide Prevention Month planning
      • Agenda
        • Q&A of crisis mobile Response Team presentation from1:15pm -1:45pm
        • Suicide Prevention Month planning from 1:45pm – 2:15pm
      • Registration Link
    • September 2024 Suicide Prevention Month Mini-Grant Application
  • Monthly Meetings
    • Upcoming: 08/06/24 – Suicide Prevention Month Planning – Toolkit Review Suicide Prevention Resource Promotion
    • Prior: 07/02/24 – Updates on suicide prevention resource website/ flyer and start planning for September Suicide Prevention Month

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS

  • 09/10/24
    • SAVE THE DATE
    • Further information TBD
    • In collaboration with Cloud Bell of the San Mateo County Library to facilitate World Suicide Prevention Day

NEWS

This section includes news that intersects with our local suicide prevention work:

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES

CRISIS RESOURCES

NON-CRISIS RESOURCES

  • BE SENSITIVE, BE BRAVE
    • 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, 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 a world where they feel seen, heard, and supported.

Here are ways you can help:

  • Actively participate in the next SPC meeting:
    • Tuesday, August 6th, 2024, 1:30pm-3:00pm
  • 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?

QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK? READY TO GET INVOLVED?
CONTACT US!

Martha Cervantes, LMFT #129448 (She/Her)
Director of StarVista Crisis Services
martha.cervantes@star-vista.org
(650) 208 – 3057

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

Walter Ng (He/Him)
Program Coordinator of StarVista Crisis Services
walter.ng@star-vista.org
(650) 722 – 7652

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