Category Archives: Community Education

Funding Opportunity to Boost Equity

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Funding Opportunity to Boost Equity: County Seeks Applications in Key Service Areas

housing


The County of San Mateo announced the release of Measure K funding opportunities to provide services for residents in three priority areas: children, families and seniors; emergency preparedness; and housing and homelessness.
“The Board of Supervisors is looking for bold, innovative ideas,” said County Executive Mike Callagy. “This is not about business as usual. This is a great opportunity to make a real difference, to boost equity and to improve lives here in San Mateo County.”

Applicants can be nonprofit organizations, private businesses or joint ventures (individuals are not eligible to apply). Entities of any size are encouraged to apply.

The County anticipates approximately $35 million will be available.

Learn more at our November 10th Pre-Proposal Meeting and Technical Support Session:
November 10, 2023, 10:00am | Agenda | Meeting Link: https://smcgov.zoom.us/j/9404686015

11/20 – 2023 Transgender Day of Remembrance

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In honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), we invite the community to join us at San Mateo Public Library on Monday, November 20, from 4:30-6:30pm.

TDOR has traditionally been about honoring the trans people who have been murdered simply by being themselves (the highest number are Black Transgender women). We want to honor victims’ lives with dignity and end the stigma that trans and gender diverse people face. Ultimately, we want to live in a world where transgender people are protected and safe from transphobia and violence.

This year’s event includes an Altar, Reading of the Names, and a Call to Action. Creating change is difficult; especially when we mourn those who have lost their lives simply for being themselves. We want to honor those who have died and also create ways for our community to learn and take action to eliminate the murder of transgender people. Transgender Day of Remembrance is adjacent to United Against Hate Week 2023. Learn more on the County’s website about how you can take part in other activities throughout the week from November 12-19. 

Register for the event here.

About:
The Transgender Day of Remembrance event is a collaboration between several community organizations around San Mateo County. Please visit each group’s website to learn more about how they support the LGBTQIA+ community. This is where “ally” becomes a verb and we all take part in creating inclusive spaces at home, at work, and at school.

TDOR Eng FlyerDownload
TDOR SP FlyerDownload

Voices of Recovery San Mateo County has Moved!

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VOR-New-Location_10.30.23Download

As of Monday, October 30th, Voices of Recovery San Mateo County (VORSMC) has moved locations from Belmont to 650 Main Street, Redwood City. For hours and more information, email them at info@vorsmc.org.

About Voices of Recovery San Mateo County:
Their mission is to create peer-led opportunities for education, wellness, advocacy and support services for individuals seeking long-term recovery from alcohol and other drugs. VORSMC aims to equally share these opportunities with our vulnerable community members in San Mateo County.  

VORSMC is for every individual seeking and maintaining long-term recovery, including family members, friends, allies and community partners and recovery stakeholders. 

More info on their website here.

Interested in Being a Health Ambassador for Youth? Join us!

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StarVista’s Health Ambassador for Youth (HAP-Y) program seeks to train youth ages 16-24 to become Health Ambassadors. The trainings cover common challenges in mental wellness, signs and risks of suicide, suicide prevention, and how to access mental health services. Trained Health Ambassadors become community agents who help raise awareness and help increase access to behavioral health services through information sharing and/or providing referrals when appropriate. In addition, Health Ambassadors have the opportunity to represent HAP-Y in community events such as presentations, outreach events, and trainings.

Participants can receive community service hours or internship hours in collaboration with their academic institutions.

In addition, a completion bonus of $700 is distributed to those who complete the program. The program accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Learn more about the program and find the application here.

For more information, contact:
Kassandra Chavez, Program Coordinator at kassandra.chavez@star-vista.org | (650) 554-1257

Health Ambassadors Make a Strong Presence at 2nd Annual Pink Patch Party

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For San Mateo County’s second annual Pink Patch Party, organized by the San Mateo Police Department, downtown San Mateo was transformed with an abundance of pink, symbolizing unity and support for those affected by breast cancer.  This year’s event was a heartwarming display of solidarity with families, local businesses, public servants, and friends coming together in support of breast cancer awareness. Notably, BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity‘s Health Ambassadors played a pivotal role in the event’s success.

Local organizations and businesses set up booths, offering community members resources and services related to health and wellness, with our Health Ambassadors highlighting valuable behavioral health and recovery resources. Additionally, free mammograms were provided, and collectible uniform “Pink Patches” were sold to raise money for breast cancer research as well as to fund self-care “battle baskets” that provide comfort to those newly diagnosed.  

This event goes beyond the display of pink patches; it embodies a steadfast commitment to those affected by breast cancer and the importance of mental health and well-being.  The Health Ambassadors contributed to this event in a variety of ways including:

  • Health Education: Providing attendees with vital mental health educational materials as well as self-care and wellness tools.
  • Community Engagement: Engaging with the community and fostering meaningful conversations and connections, and sharing lived experiences of courage, strength, and resilience.
  • Resource Connectors: Connecting community members to a wealth of wellness, behavioral health, and recovery resources within the county.
  • Promoters of Inclusivity & Stigma Reduction: Emphasizing the commitment to promoting inclusivity and equitable access to health care services and resources.

The Pink Patch Event is a profound demonstration of community strength and the crucial role of health ambassadors in creating a healthier, united, and inclusive San Mateo County.  Beyond this event, the BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity, through its Health Ambassadors, remains committed to ensuring the well-being of our diverse community.

To learn more about the county’s Health Ambassador Program and be part of a team dedicated to empowering our community members for a healthier and more equitable future, visit: https://www.smchealth.org/general-information/health-ambassador-program.

Written by Isaiah Cajbon (he/him) and Maria Martinez (she/her), BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity

New Resource! Racial Equity, Trauma- Informed Card

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Implementing a racial equity, trauma-informed tool is a vital step to realizing our SMC Behavioral Health & Recovery Services goals. It is part of transforming our system & holding our values at our core. To do this we must normalize conversations about race, organize by building capacity and partnering with others, and operationalize by utilizing racial equity tools that are data driven. This lens can be utilized in many of our decision making capacities, including with clients, workforce or community members.

Print out this resource at your work place to create a more racial equity, trauma informed organization.

To learn more about BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity, visit SMCHealth.org/ODE.
For other community resources we offer, visit our resource page here.

Racial-Equity-Trauma-Informed-Card-1Download

Be Sensitive, Be Brave Trainings for Filipino/a/x Community

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Please join us for two upcoming virtual Be Sensitive, Be Brave Trainings focused towards the Filipino/a/x Community.
– Be Sensitive Be Brave for Suicide Prevention | Thursday, 10/26 from 11AM-12:30PM | Register here
– Be Sensitive Be Brave for Mental Health | Monday, 10/30 from 10AM-12PM | Register here

The Be Sensitive, Be Brave infuses culture and diversity throughout these two free foundational workshops on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for community members.

Be Sensitive, Be Brave – For Mental Health
The mental health workshop prepares community members to help friends and loved ones during times of distress. Learn how to recognize mental health conditions, what to do when someone needs support, and tools for maintaining good mental health.

Learn how to:

  • Identify if someone is in mental distress
  • Practice being sensitive and brave in helping others
  • Increase awareness of mental health resources
  • Build resilience using a recipe for mental health
  • Build cultural sensitivity around mental health
  • Respond to community needs and decrease stigma
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Be Sensitive, Be Brave – For Suicide Prevention

The suicide prevention workshop teaches community members to act as eyes and ears for suicidal distress and to connect individuals to help.

Learn how to:

  • Identify signs of suicide
  • Ask if someone is considering suicide sensitively and confidently
  • Connect individuals with the appropriate support
  • Approach suicide prevention in a culturally sensitive manner

For more information about Be Sensitive, Be Brave, visit their website here.

Tmrw, 10/17: Latino/a/e Community Assessment Report Back in Redwood City

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Please join us Tuesday evening in Redwood City for a light dinner and a sharing of the findings of the Latino/a/e community assessment on mental health and substance abuse in youth and families. The event is tomorrow, Tuesday October 17, from 5:30 – 8pm at the Fair Oaks Community Center at 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. In addition to hearing the responses of the community assessment, you can share your thoughts on our recommendations toward improving resources and support for our families and youth.

This will be our second event sharing the community assessment findings. To ensure we could cover more geography in our diverse community, we wanted to have an event on the coastside as well as Redwood City. The presentation of the data and recommendations will largely be the same as the event at ALAS in Half Moon Bay. We will also be gathering around tables for small group discussion to hear community feedback on what is most useful to prioritize in the Redwood City/North Fair Oaks community.

The event is co-hosted by El Concilio and Nuestra Casa, please reach out to Dr. Ana Avendaño at El Concilio (ana@el-concilio.org) or call (650) 402-7995 if you have any questions. The presentation will be in Spanish with English interpretation available. No RSVP is required!

Please see the flyer for more information, and we hope you can join us tomorrow evening.

Únase a nosotros el martes por la tarde en Redwood City para una cena ligera y para compartir los hallazgos de la evaluación de la comunidad latina sobre la salud mental y abuso de sustancias en jóvenes y familias. El evento será mañana, martes, 17 de octubre, de 5:30 pm a 8:00 pm en el Centro Comunitario Fair Oaks, en 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. Además de escuchar las respuestas de la evaluación de la comunidad, puede compartir sus opiniones sobre nuestras recomendaciones para mejorar los recursos y el apoyo a nuestras familias y jóvenes.

Este será nuestro segundo evento en el que compartiremos los resultados de la evaluación comunitaria. Para asegurarnos de que pudiéramos cubrir más geografía en nuestra diversa comunidad, queríamos tener un evento en la costa, además de en Redwood City. La presentación de los datos y las recomendaciones, será en gran parte la misma que en el evento en ALAS en Half Moon Bay. También nos reuniremos alrededor de mesas para conversar en grupos pequeños, para escuchar los comentarios y opiniones de la comunidad sobre qué es más útil priorizar en la comunidad de Redwood City/North Fair Oaks.

El evento es coorganizado por El Concilio y Nuestra Casa; comuníquese con la Dra. Ana Avendaño en El Concilio (ana@el-concilio.org) o llame al (650) 402-7995 si tiene alguna pregunta. La presentación será en español con interpretación al inglés disponible. ¡No es necesario confirmar su asistencia!

Consulte el folleto para obtener más información y esperamos que pueda unirse a nosotros mañana por la tarde.

Liven Up Your Virtual Background by Advocating for Your Communities!

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Virtual backgrounds are an easy way to spark conversation with others. Spark a conversation about a cause or community you care about at your next virtual meeting with one of BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity’s cultural or mental health related backgrounds!

Backgrounds we are offering include Mental Health Month, Black History Month, National BIPOC Mental Health Month, and more! 

Check out our variety of cultural and mental health related backgrounds here. 

Youth Leaders Share Mental Health Advice to Parents at “What I Wish My Parents Knew” Forum

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In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity’s Chinese Health Initiative partnered with Belmont, Redwood Shore, San Carlos Chinese Community  (BRSCC), and Star Vista’s Health Ambassador Youth Program to host the “What I Wish My Parents Knew” forum on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

The successful forum was led by San Mateo County youths Xin Xin Cai, Anthony Lee, and Anastasia Yang, with over 50 participants of parents, caregivers, and allies. As a way to ensure this forum was accessible to our communities, it was provided in English with Cantonese and Mandarin interpretation.

Youth leaders addressed mental health questions using their lens of the Chinese-American culture and provided insightful advice to parents and mental health clinicians in the audience. They identified the top reasons for not wanting to share about their mental health were stigma and not wanting to worry their parents. One piece of advice offered to address this challenge was for parents and caregivers to talk to teens about their mental health in ways that support teens as independent individuals such as giving them time and space.

To learn more about the Chinese Health Initiative, visit SMCHealth.org/CHI and follow them on Facebook.

Written by Alyson Suzuki, Chinese Health Initiative Co-Chair and Kayla Tolentino, BHRS’ Office of Diversity & Equity

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