Category Archives: Consumer

1/17 – Deadline to Submit George Culores Hall of Fame Nomination

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2016 Recipient of the George Culores Hall of Fame Award, Yolanda Ramirez, receiving the award from MHSARC member, Rocio Cornejo

Every year the Behavioral Health Commission (BHC) honors individuals who have found their way to a path of wellness and recovery from mental illness and have been active in the consumer movement to better the lives of others in San Mateo County.

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 nomination is on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023.

Learn more about the George Culores Hall of Fame Award here.

Nomination-Form2023Download

Serenity House CRT Program Reopens

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We are pleased to announce that the Serenity House Crisis Residential Treatment (CRT) program opened on Monday, October 3!

Serenity House is a 13-bed CRT program serving adults age 18+ with a diagnosis of mental illness, including those with co-occurring substance use disorders. In partnership with San Mateo County, the CRT will provide care to individuals aged 18 and above, 24-hours a day, 7 days per week.

The CRT will help people find relief from distress, maintain stability, and emphasize choice-making skills and harm-reduction techniques. Prior to arriving at the program, all referrals should call 650-539-0340 to access services.

Referrals may be generated through self-referral, local law enforcement, emergency responders, or being diverted from psychiatric emergency departments.

Learn more here.

12/21- Heart & Soul Holiday Open House

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Join Heart & Soul in celebrating the holiday season! Learn about their programs, meet their team member, and gather in community. Their holiday open house is Wednesday, December 21st from 3pm to 6pm at 1633 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 258, Burlingame.

Heart & Soul is also offering an in-person Holiday Wellness Project: 2023 Vision Boards. How will you nurture your wellness in 2023? Vision boards are creative tools to hep you focus your awareness and intentions for the new year. Materials will be provided to create a 15 x 11 inch Vision Board. An image bank of hundreds of clippings, quotes and pictures will be available for you to use in your collage. If you have favorite imagery or meaningful wording to incorporate in your Vision Board, bring them with you!

For more info visit heartandsoulinc.org or email info@heartandsoulinc.org.

TransACTION Day of Change – Dreaming of a World without TDOR (#endTDOR)

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On Friday November 18, 2022, San Mateo County (SMC) community members gathered at Redwood City Courthouse square for the first annual TransACTION Day of Change in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). SMC has observed TDOR since 2015. By providing these annual days of action, the planning committee hope to create more awareness, education, and visibility to stop this violence enacted toward transgender individuals.

In honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), TransACTION Day of Change was created to provide community the opportunity to commit to ending TDOR (#endTDOR). TDOR has traditionally been about honoring the trans people who have been murdered simply by being themselves (the highest number are Black Transgender women). The TransACTION Day of Change Planning committee (under the lead of LGBTQ Commission Director, Tanya Beat) wanted to honor victims’ lives with dignity and end the stigma that trans, nonbinary and gender diverse people face. Ultimately, we want to live in a world that no longer has Transgender Day of Remembrance. PRIDE Initiative cochairs Dana Johnson and Scott Gruendl joined community in support of TransACTION Day of Change. The featured event had resource booths, an Allegiance Wall, Reading of the Names, and ended in a Candlelight Vigil. PRIDE Initiative cochair and LGBTQ Commissioner Dana Johnson (they/ them) was the event emcee.

The event also offered a vaccination clinic which was able to administer 106 COVID-19 vaccinations and 8 MPOX vaccinations, according to the vaccine site manager.

“The event was affirming and a step towards change. I’m happy to be a part of this community and working with other community leaders in striving to make a safer community for trans, nonbinary and gender diverse folks. Identity, intersectionality, and inclusion is important to me, and I will continue to fight for trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse folks to be heard and seen.”

Dana Johnson, PRIDE Initiative Co-Chair and LGBTQ Commissioner


For more information about TDOR and to view the TDOR 2022 PowerPoint presentation visit SMC LGBTQ Commission website here.

In Solidarity,
Dana Johnson (they/ them/ theirs)

10/26- Heart & Soul Open House at New Location

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Heart & Soul joyfully invites you to celebrate the opening of their new Community Drop-In Center in Burlingame! Join to learn what’s new, meet their team, have fun, be inspired, and celebrate their San Mateo County Mental Health Peer Support Community!

Free Admission! No advance registration or RSVP is required. All are welcome

Join the OCFA Advocacy Academy

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The Advocacy Academy is for individuals with behavioral health challenges and their family members who want to learn skills to be an effective advocate within BHRS and beyond.

Learn the skills to bring your voice to Behavioral Health and Recovery Services committees, particularly to the MHSA Health Equity Initiatives and all other workgroups. Learn to advocate for positive change, social inclusion, consumer and family education and outreach, and much more.

The next training session starts Thursday, February 3 and continues for a total of six consecutive Thursdays (February 3, 10,17, 24, March 3 and 10).

See the flier and application (PDF, Word). Applications are due by January 21, 2022.

For more information, contact the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs at ocfa@smcgov.org or call 800-388-5189. Learn more about the academy.

Become a better advocate

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Join the OCFA Advocacy Academy 2021, presented by The Copeland Center for those BHRS clients and family
members who want to make a difference.

The Advocacy Academy is for individuals with behavioral health challenges and their family members who want to learn skills to be effective advocates within BHRS and beyond. Learn the skills to bring your voice to the BHRS
committees, Health Equity Initiatives and all other workgroups. Advocate for positive change,
social inclusion, consumer & family education and outreach, and much more.

Training provided by trainers with Lived Experience from The Copeland Center for Wellness &
Recovery.

Date: Six consecutive Thursdays: February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1.
Time: From 1 to 3:30 PM
Location: On Zoom

For more information or to apply, contact: ocfa@smcgov.org or call Jairo at 650-573-2890.
Stipends will be provided.

Deadline to apply: Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 5:00 pm

See the flierDownload

David Lewis Award Nominations

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The San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission is seeking nominees for its annual David Lewis Award, recognizing outstanding contributions towards recovery. 

This honor is made to the individual or organization that has made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with substance abuse disorders and the San Mateo County community. Recognition is given for public education or advocacy around alcohol and other drug abuse issues or to address stigma; services to persons with substance abuse disorders; creation of new and innovative programs or community support activities; recognition of fundraising for substance abuse treatment activities or long-term financial support to substance abuse programs; working for new legislation; and compassionate treatment of persons with alcohol and other drug disorders.

Confidentiality of private information is very important. If you are nominating someone who is in recovery, please be sure that they are comfortable revealing their status.

Awards will be presented to honorees at the San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission meeting on September 2, 2020. The Deadline for award nominations is August 12, 2020. 

Download instructions and nomination form below:

David_Lewis_Award_Nomination_2020Download

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