Category Archives: Training

First-Ever Youth Mental Wellness Pathways Workshop Piloted by San Mateo County Behavioral Health Youth Committee

Just in time for Teen Mental Health Month, on August 1st, the San Mateo County Behavioral Health Youth Committee piloted its first-ever Youth Mental Wellness Pathways Workshop guided by the vision of creating clear, culturally sensitive and empathy-based access – “pathways” – to mental and behavioral health care for youth and their families no matter the point-of-entry.  With the ultimate goal of creating a simple yet effective navigational tool with heart, the pilot was designed for participants to:

  • Share their lived experiences (both positive and negative — i.e. barriers encountered) in navigating the system;
  • Exchange insight on how to effectively navigate the process;
  • Gather early data for an MVP pathways map that: (1) defines what questions to ask; (2) empowers with rights and sets expectations; (3) directs where to go; and (4) connects with supportive tips and networks.

 In small groups, parents, caregivers, educators, youth and mental health and behavioral health practitioners shared a unique mental wellness experience; identifying the feelings, thoughts, and actions that occurred before, during, and after attempting to access care. They mapped their pathway, then as a group, participants discussed their responses and then assessed the trends on their pathway. This was followed by a gallery tour, where each participant looked at each group’s pathway to better understand the thoughts, feelings, and obstacles that arise when attempting to access behavioral health care, as well as to define needs at each stage.

Through this event, participants were able to share their lived experiences to understand the realities associated with seeking behavioral health care. Whether that be fear, linguistic barriers, or the difference between therapy and youth therapy, this event created a space for identifying these real-life experiences from San Mateo County staff and families – and, importantly, co-created practical steps to support youth and families in moments of greatest need.

For future sessions, the Youth Committee plans to meet different communities within San Mateo County to host similar sessions among more youth, parent and caregivers, and educators of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. BHRS Office of Diversity would like to thank BHC Commissioner and Youth Committee Chair Frieda Edgette, BHC Commissioner, Commission on Disabilities Commissioner and County of Education Board Trustee Chelsea Bonini, BHRS Deputy Director of Youth and Family Services Ziomara Ochoa, Commission on Disabilities Commissioner and San Mateo Union School District Board Trustee Ligia Andrade Zuniga, volunteer William Elting, Consumer & Family Affairs TITLE Yolanda Ramirez and Parent Project Program Coordinator II Nicoletta Kelleher for their outstanding efforts in piloting this event. In addition, the Office of Diversity and Equity expresses deep gratitude to all the attendants that shared their lived experience and made this event possible.

If you are interested in learning more, getting involved or bringing the pathways workshop to your organization, please contact Nicoletta Kelleher at nkelleher@smcgov.org

Meet ODE’s Workforce, Education and Training (WET) Team!

Angela Quiroz, Elise Cabilatazan, Andrew Tardiff, Stacy Williams, Irene Pham

The love of learning, hope for growth and passion to be part of the fight for equity are some of the values that drives BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity‘s WET team. The WET team, consisting of new and seasoned members, is excited to come together to continue fostering growth within our system while also seeking to accomplish established goals and support the learning needs of our staff through a variety of trainings, workshops, and programs.

In the upcoming fiscal year, the WET team is striving to bring back a number of trainings both in-person and virtual including Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Prevention and Management of Assaultive Behavior, and Motivational Interviewing, to name a few, as well as increasing staff’s access to Continuing Education (CE) eligible trainings.

Moreover, the internship program is spurring to action and preparing to welcome our next round of clinical and ODE interns. The WET team is kicking things off with an in-person orientation; an event that has not happened in 2 years due to the pandemic. A number of interns will benefit from being identified as cultural stipend participants and have the opportunity to work alongside one of the Health Equity Initiatives (HEIs) on a community related project. The internship program is also being revamped to include new outreach strategies to help bolster the training opportunities offered in our county.

We aim to do our part to support our teams with their professional and personal growth and will continue to look for ways to improve and excel.

Written by Irene Pham (she/her), BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity

5/2- Suicide Prevention Messaging Matters Annual Webinar

The San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee is hosting below event that is free and open to the public. Please help us spread the word about this opportunity!

MESSAGING MATTERS ANNUAL WEBINAR

Learn safe and effective messaging about suicide prevention

Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023  

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Virtual Location: Zoom Webinar. Register here: bit.ly/2023messagingmatters

Details: Please join us for this annual webinar “Messaging Matters” to learn more about safe and effective messaging about suicide prevention. Participants will learn about responsible media reporting, how to engage the news media as partners in suicide prevention, and how to create effective suicide prevention materials and talking points. Presentation will be by subject matter expert Stan Collins, Suicide Prevention Specialist with California Mental Health Services Authority Technical Assistance Team. Flyer: View here and attached.

Please help us outreach to all members of our community, especially those who communicate publicly about suicide and suicide prevention. Examples include

  • Public information officers
  • Social media managers or influencers
  • Print media professionals (newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters)
  • Broadcast media professionals (television, radio)
  • Journalists and student journalists
  • Presenters/trainers who present on suicide and suicide prevention

Become a Cultural Humility Trainer Through 5-Day Training!

Become a Cultural Humility trainer by learning the teachings of Melanie Tervalon, MD, MPH and Jann Murray-Garcia, MD, MPH, from Briana Evans and support our BHRS Multicultural Organizational Development (MCOD) framework to advance equity, diversity and principles of cultural humility and inclusion in the workplace.

You may only apply if you have already taken Dr. Melanie Tervalon and Dr. Jann Murray-Garcia’s Cultural Humility training as a participant.

It is required that you attend all five Training of Trainer sessions:

  • May 24, in-person | 9:30 A.M. – 4 P.M.
  • May 25, in-person | 9:30 A.M. – 4 P.M.
  • May 31, virtual | 1 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. 
  • June 7, virtual | 1 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. 
  • June 21, in-person |  1 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

Expectations upon completion of this training:

  • Commit to providing a minimum of 3 Cultural Humility trainings (2 of which for BHRS staff) on an annual basis. 
  • Attend the Cultural Humility Cohort meeting every 1st Monday at 10 A.M. where you will dialogue with other facilitators, support one another, and continue growing as a facilitator.

If you are interested to apply, please email KFLui@smcgov.org for application. Deadline to apply is 5/1. Note: Supervisor signature will be required on the application.

Please share this flyer with your networks.

Join the OCFA Advocacy Academy

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 CULTURAL HUMILITY TRAINER THROUGH 3-DAY TRAINING!

Become a Cultural Humility trainer with Leanna Lewis, LCSW. As a trainer, you will be able to teach Cultural Humility trainings to other organizations in order to further educate the importance of critical self- reflection and life-long learning; changing power dynamics for client focused care; advocating for and maintaining institutional consistency; and community- based care and advocacy. 

Please note: You may only apply if you have already taken Melanie Tervalon’s Cultural Humility training as a participant. 

Deadline to apply is June 8th, 2021.

For more information, contact Kristie Lui at KFLui@smcgov.org or Erica Britton at EBritton@smcgov.org.

Adults 55+ Join us for “Appy Hour”

Attend a free training

Do you use technology?

“Appy Hours” are basic 101 training’s on using smart phones and tablets for downloading apps, navigating phones/tablets, going to the app stores, and downloading an app.

Bring your smart phone, tablet, or laptop or come without devices.

Click the links below for more info on each session.

San Mateo location

Monday, October 21, 12pm-1pm
Monday, November 18, 12pm-1pm

San Mateo County Pride Center
1021 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo
(Lunch provided)

East Palo Alto location

(flyer in English and Spanish)
Monday, October 21, 3pm-4pm
The Barbara A. Mouton Multicultural Wellness Center (upstairs)
903 Weeks St., East Palo Alto
(Light refreshments served)

RSVP before Oct. 18 and Nov. 15
Sign up with Arlene Aquino
(650) 403-4200 Ext. 4327
aaquino@peninsulafamilyservice.org


Having difficulty hearing or seeing your smartphone?

Attend a free training

Make your Android or iPhone work better for you!
Learn how to:

  • Make your smartphone louder and easier to hear
  • Send text messages
  • Connect Bluetooth devices
  • Operate the basic functions on your smartphone and much more!

Click the links below for more info on each session. 
iPhone users: Friday, October 25th, 10am-12pm
Android users: Wednesday, October 30, 10am-12pm

Where: 24 Second Ave., San Mateo-Peninsula Family Service

Seating is limited — sign up with Arlene Aquino
Call: (650) 403-4200 Ext. 4327, Email: aaquino@peninsulafamilyservice.org

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