Category Archives: Recovery Support

Nominate a Recovery Champion for the 2023 Steve Kaplan Award!

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It’s that time again!  Calling for nominees for the 2023 Steve Kaplan Award!  Submit your nomination using the form at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G6QZL8D Deadline for submitting a nomination is Friday, August 18, 2023. 

The Board of Directors of Voices of Recovery San Mateo County (VORSMC) is requesting nominations for the 6th Annual Steve Kaplan Award to be presented during Recovery Month 2023 in September. The award will be presented at an event during Recovery Month, to be announced at a later date.

You can nominate multiple people or organizations by submitting a separate form for each individual or group. This award is a tribute to the person or organization that exemplifies these principles:

  • Represents the diverse San Mateo County recovery community; people in long-term recovery, their families, friends, and allies, and supports all pathways to recovery
  • Educates the public, advocates for improved policies, and serves to advance opportunities for long-term recovery from substance use disorder and/or co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges
  • Mobilizes resources to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery services and supports
  • Works to make peer-based and other recovery support services available and accessible to build leadership and support long-term recovery

The Steve Kaplan Award was established in 2018 in honor of former San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Director Steve Kaplan, whose contributions helped to create VORSMC. VORSMC opened its doors in 2009 with a mission to honor and embrace the unique strengths and challenges people encounter along the journey of recovery, and to create peer-led opportunities for education, wellness, advocacy, and support for individuals in or in need of long-term recovery from substance use and co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges, equally sharing these opportunities and support services with impacted families.    

For any questions, contact Veronica Antonelli at info@vorsmc.org or by phone at (650) 643-6955

Thanks for participating!

Stay Well During the Holidays with a WRAP Plan

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Join Voices of Recovery for “WRAP Around the Holidays,” and together you can develop a plan to stay well during the holidays, before a crisis begins. Developing a Wellness, Recovery, Action, Plan (WRAP) can help:

  • Improve your quality of life
  • Decrease and prevent intrusive or troubling feelings and behaviors
  • Increase personal empowerment
  • Strengthen the recovery process
  • Assist in achieving life goals and dreams

Sessions will be held Tuesday & Thursdays, 6-8 PM starting on November 16. See their flyer for details. Learn more about WRAP at Voice of Recovery.

Recovery Month: Help is Available

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National Recovery Month highlights that recovery works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.  

We know that each recovery journey is unique—there are numerous treatment options and recovery pathways available to those dealing with substance use and/or mental health disorders in San Mateo County.

Learn how you can support someone who has who is struggling with alcohol or drugs and the types of treatment options available.   

Call the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Access Call Center at 1(800) 686-0101 (or for hearing impaired, dial 711). For more information or visit www.smchealth.org/bhrsservices 

Recovery Comedy Show: “One Laugh Time” with Mark Lundholm

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In support and celebration of Recovery Month, come join us for a night of comedy, “One Laugh Time,” featuring Mark Lundholm.

September 29, 2020 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
MC: Brendan Winans
REGISTER HERE

See the full list of Recovery Month events and and details at vorsmc.org/recovery-happens. All events are virtual. Please register in advance.

If you or some you know is in need of mental health and/or substance use treatment or support, call Behavioral Health & Recovery Services at 1-(800) 686-0101 or visit www.smchealth.org/bhrsservices

The Impact of Criminal Justice on Personal Recovery

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People in Recovery come from all walks of life. This year San Mateo County’s Recovery Month will spotlight those in recovery who have come into contact with or run afoul of the criminal justice system. To highlight this topic a special panel of guest speakers and moderators have been assembled for this discussion. All are welcome.

Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 6:00 PM
Moderator: Lee Harris
REGISTER HERE

See the full list of Recovery Month events and and details at vorsmc.org/recovery-happens. All events are virtual. Please register in advance.

If you or some you know is in need of mental health and/or substance use treatment or support, call Behavioral Health & Recovery Services at 1-(800) 686-0101 or visit www.smchealth.org/bhrsservices

Voices of Recovery Screening: “The S word”

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September is both Recovery month and Suicide Prevention Month. Join Voices of Recovery for a free screening of “The S Word” which will address this important issue and give hope to survivors as well as those impacted by suicide. There will be time for questions and answers at the screening.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 | 6–8 PM
Please register here.

See the full list of Recovery Month events at vorsmc.org/recovery-happens. All events are virtual. Please register in advance.

If you or some you know is in need of mental health or substance use support or treatment, call Behavioral Health & Recovery Services at 1-(800) 686 0101 or visit www.smchealth.org/bhrsservices

Black Lives Matter and Black Recovery Matters

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In the fight for equality and end to racism, we must listen to those who have lived experience. In recovery we rely on the support of our peers, and this means that their struggles are our struggles. With this in mind we host this event with special speakers to share on the topic of black recovery. 

Telling our stories of anti-black racism and recovery is an important means of educating the community. We welcome everyone to join us for this significant discussion.

Thursday, September 17, 2020 | 6–8 PM
Moderator: Pam Ward
REGISTER HERE

See the full list of Recovery Month events and and details at vorsmc.org/recovery-happens. All events are virtual. Please register in advance.

If you or some you may need mental health or substance use care or support, call Behavioral Health & Recovery Services at 1-(800) 686-0101 or visit www.smchealth.org/bhrsservices

San Mateo County Celebrates National Recovery Month

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September is National Recovery Month. This observance celebrates the millions of Americans who are in recovery from mental and substance use disorders, reminding us that treatment is effective and that people can and do recover. It also serves to help reduce the stigma and misconceptions that cloud public understanding of mental and substance use disorders, potentially discouraging others from seeking help. 

Recovery Month in San Mateo County kicks off with a candlelight vigil on August 28 followed by a number of events throughout the month of September including an art show, comedy show, black lives matter event and more. See the full list of events and details at vorsmc.org/recovery-happens. All events are virtual. Please register in advance.

If you or some you know may need mental health or substance use care or support, call Behavioral Health & Recovery Services at 1-(800) 686-0101 or visit www.smchealth.org/bhrsservices

Women’s Treatment Facility Transitions to Serve Only Men

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As of June 3rd, Laurel House, a program of HealthRIGHT 360, began serving adult men in need of residential substance use treatment services in San Mateo County.  

Laurel House was the first home opened by the Women’s Recovery Association in 1973 and originally its mission was to treat only women.

Laurel House

The transition to now serve men is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to HealthRIGHT’s commitment to the entire community and its partners.

The transition occurred mainly to address the recovery needs of men, ease the backlog of clients waiting to access residential care, and fill the growing number of women’s beds that have consistently remained empty system wide since the implementation of Drug Medi-Cal in 2017.  

Read the full article here. 

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