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:
Meeting Details:
San Mateo 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
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
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
San Mateo County is recognizing this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance with a flag-raising and speakers on Wednesday, November 13, from 9:00-9:30am. Supervisor Pine will be sharing remarks as well as Venus Itzuri Perez-Hernandez from Mariposa Outreach. The flag-raising is open to everyone and will be in the County Courtyard at 500 County Center Redwood City.
Please feel free to share this flyer widely.
Thank you!
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
On Friday, September 27, the Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) celebrated its 15th anniversary at the South San Francisco Public Library. The event brought together 150 community members, partners, and BHRS staff to commemorate ODE’s remarkable journey.
The evening featured cultural performances, leadership reflections, and a tribute to ODE’s ongoing impact on behavioral health in San Mateo County. A candlelight ceremony symbolized the collective effort to ignite meaningful change and foster hope and healing for all.
Key highlights included:
ODE’s work transcends services, focusing on breaking down barriers and amplifying marginalized voices. Over the years, ODE has driven initiatives like Health Equity Initiatives, the Mental Health Services Act, and culturally informed trainings that have reshaped behavioral health care in San Mateo County.
Thank you to everyone—past and present—who contributed to ODE’s success. We look forward to many more years of progress and partnership!
It is that wonderful time of year! 
The LC is preparing to host their annual community event to support our very diverse Latino/a/x communities. This year our theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” The event will take place on Saturday, October 26th 12:30-3:30PM at the Mervin G. Morris Boys and Girls Club, 1109 Hilton Street RWC. It is a free, family event to promote behavioral health and reduce stigma, the event will be held in Spanish.
Please help us spread the word by sharing with your clients, friends and family. If you’d like to volunteer please contact Frances Lobos at FLobos@smcgov.org for more information. 
Written by Addya Agarwal, Carlmont High School
National Suicide Prevention Month in September has inspired change throughout the community, from Carlmont High School to San Mateo County.
Multiple organizations, including the Carlmont Students Offering Support (SOS) program and the San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee, have been focusing their efforts on raising awareness and preventing suicides.
“Our goal is to reduce stigma around suicide and remove barriers that prevent access to resources. Some of the barriers include stigma and lack of information, so we really want to reduce those barriers for the community and increase residents’ connections to help,” San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee Co-Chair Sylvia Tang said.
Read the full article here: https://scotscoop.com/san-mateo-county-furthers-suicide-prevention-measures
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