To learn more about behavioral services available in San Mateo County, visit SMCHealth.org/bhrsservices. You can also call for help by contacting the below numbers available 24/7: Behavioral Health Crisis: Call 650-579-0350 or 988 (Star Vista Crisis Hotline/National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) Behavioral Health Services: Call 800-686-0101 (ACCESS Call Center)
Para obtener más información sobre los servicios conductuales (servicios de salud mental y uso de sustancias) disponibles en el condado de San Mateo, visite SMCHealth.org/bhrsservices También puede solicitar ayuda comunicándose con los siguientes números disponibles las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana: Behavioral Health Crisis: llame al 650-579-0350 o al 988 (Star Vista Crisis Hotline/National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) Behavioral Health Services: llame al 800-686-0101 (ACCESS Call Center)
Congratulations to our three BHRS Equity in Leadership Award winners, Delicia Pennix, Eri Tsujii and Gloria Gutierrez!
The BHRS Leadership in Equity Award was created to honor the workforce members who have shown passion, dedication, and action to bolster policy and practices that support equitable outcomes.
Through our MCOD work and before, we have witnessed individuals transform our system and elevate the voice of our workforce and communities.
The purpose of the award is to:
Recognize staff who are living into our multicultural organizational development (MCOD) vision
Show our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) efforts
Model & share the message to all our workforce that equity & our BHRS MCOD goals can be achieved by all of us working together.
In 2021 ODE was proud to initiate the first Scott Gruendl Equity in Leadership Award. Our Workforce, Education and Training (WET) Director led this work after noticing one executive team member who consistently showed up willing to courageously engage in personal reflection and actively create system change.
In 2022 the program was expanded to honor and recognize Managers/Supervisors and Direct Care/Administrative team members who have shown exceptional work in leading our BHRS Equity work. This year, with your feedback, the category relating to positions (e.g.: Administrative staff/Direct Care, Supervisor/Manager, or Executive) is no longer part of the criteria.
About the Award Recipients:
Delicia “Dee” Pennix has exemplified the spirit of diversity, equity and inclusion while working for BHRS as a Patient Service Assistant for Service Connect and Pathways. Delicia has been the African American Community Initiative (AACI) co-chair for the last two years and in this position, she has demonstrated a commitment to serving all of San Mateo County as well as hosting annual events for Black History Month and Juneteenth. Dee has participated in the BHRS equity recruitment workgroup to advocate for workplace diversity and inclusion, GARE and the Recovery Happens committee. Since her start in San Mateo County, she has been committed to the County’s vision of diversity and equity and strived to be a leader who keeps this vision in the center of her various roles in our County.
Gloria Gutierrez is a co-chair of the Native and Indigenous Peoples Initiative (NIPI) and is one of the founding members of NIPI as well as other Health Equity Initiatives (HEI). She selflessly serves the community while advocating for the rights of Indigenous and Native American communities as well as other marginalized individuals. Gloria maintains the Phoenix Garden on her own time, which is a project that the initiative and other supporters have brought to fruition. We are also honored to have her provide the blessing and land acknowledgment at many of our county community events.
Lastly, Gloria is one of our Cultural Humility trainers, teaching our workforce about this important foundational training. Gloria approaches her services through a person and family-centered lens and is a health advocate who encompasses BHRS’ values.
Eri Tsujii is a great example of how a traditionally non-direct service/non-client facing staff can implement an equity lens in the work that they do as a colleague. Eri applies collaboration and an equity lens in the work that she does to improve our system of care. As a member of the Quality Assurance team, she works to ensure that data from our clients and community is represented and weaved into our work. By gathering the voices and perspectives of many she works to ensure information is being shared for efficiency and that the data and the voices of our stakeholders are incorporated into the work she leads with developing and evaluating Performance Improvement Projects (PIP).
We are grateful to our three awardees for their impactful work in ensuring that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are at the forefront of all we do. We also thank the many people in our workforce who are working alongside our current recipients to create change. Next year we look forward to your nominations of individuals who bring the DEIB lens into their work.
To learn more about BHRS’ Office of Diversity & Equity, visit SMCHealth.org/ODE.
Our new Winter Mental Wellness Guide is here to support your well-being this season. It’s got tips on seasonal planning, setting healthy boundaries, and feeling less overwhelmed. Download it now: https://takeaction4mh.com/toolkit-categories/winter-wellness/
To learn more about behavioral services available in San Mateo County, visit SMCHealth.org/bhrsservices. You can also call for help by contacting the below numbers available 24/7: Behavioral Health Crisis: Call 650-579-0350 or 988 (Star Vista Crisis Hotline/National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) Behavioral Health Services: Call 800-686-0101 (ACCESS Call Center)
Aquí está nuestra nueva Guía de bienestar mental para la temporada de invierno que llegó para apoyarte. Incluye consejos para que hagas planes para la temporada, pongas límites buenos para ti y para que te sientas menos abrumado. Descárgala ahora: https://takeaction4mh.com/toolkit-categories/winter-wellness/
Para obtener más información sobre los servicios conductuales (servicios de salud mental y uso de sustancias) disponibles en el condado de San Mateo, visite SMCHealth.org/bhrsservices También puede solicitar ayuda comunicándose con los siguientes números disponibles las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana: Behavioral Health Crisis: llame al 650-579-0350 o al 988 (Star Vista Crisis Hotline/National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)Behavioral Health Services: llame al 800-686-0101 (ACCESS Call Center)
We invite you to join Supervisor Corzo and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity & Equity‘s Native and Indigenous Peoples Initiative for our first San Mateo County Native American Heritage Month gathering on Wednesday 11/22/23 in Redwood City at 9am. Please see the flyer for additional information.
To learn more about Native Indigenous People’s Initiative, visit SMCHealth.org/NIPI.
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
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.
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.
San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission
San Mateo Public Library
The City of San Mateo
San Mateo County Pride Initiative
Office of Diversity & Equity, San Mateo County BHRS (Behavioral Health & Recovery Services)
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.
Join us for the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office Annual Presentation! Throughout the year, the Coroner’s Office investigates circumstances of sudden, unexplained, violent, and unnatural deaths, including suicide deaths, in San Mateo County.
The Coroner’s Office is presenting to the San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee, covering topics including introduction to the Coroner’s Office, death investigation process, death review teams, recent data and shared resources with descendants.
Date: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Time: 1:30-3:30pm Pacific Time Virtual Location: zoom.us/j/410362485
Please help us spread the word, as everyone is welcome to attend. Come grab a virtual seat and get informed!
If you or someone you know is struggling with an emotional distress or suicidal crisis, contact our 24/7 crisis hotlines: Call 650-579-0350 or 988 Text “Bay” to 741-741 or 988 Visit SanMateoCrisis.org
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.
On behalf of the Native and Indigenous Peoples Initiative (NIPI) we express gratitude to be able to represent alongside the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC). On October 9, 2023, we honored and celebrated Indigenous People’s Day at the annual Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island, Yelamu, Ohlone territory, respectively. The IITC has organized the annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island to recognize the historic Alcatraz Occupation that began November 20, 1969 as a way to acknowledge and support the resistance and survival of the Indigenous Peoples of this land. 2023 marked the 44th Annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Sunrise Gathering as well as the 5th Annual Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. Both events featured Native and Indigenous performers and speakers as well as local vendors. It was an honor to see so many participants and attendants supporting the event and individual artists.
Upon sunset the Native and Indigenous Peoples Initiative (NIPI) received an Indigenous Peoples Day Proclamation from the city of Redwood City, CA.
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