Please see the latest issue of the Director’s Newsletter, Advancing Health Equity, from BHRS Director, Dr. Jei Africa!
Topics include:
Hello,
Please share this event with your networks. San Mateo County’s Behavioral Health & Recovery Services’ Diversity & Equity Council is inviting Legal Aid of San Mateo County to present for the community.
Legal Aid will discuss community concerns around access to civil legal services with a focus on access to healthcare and public benefits for LGBTQ+, undocumented and mental health consumers.
Learn about Health Consumer Center at Legal Aid, the types of cases they support, and information about Medi-Cal for all, including undocumented individuals.
What: Presentation from Legal Aid of San Mateo County
When: Friday, 2/7/25, 11AM-12:30PM
Where: Via Zoom (Email Brenda Nuñez at Brenda.Nunez@star-vista.org for Zoom info)
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Latest Updates
Monthly Meetings
Mark your calendars! African American Community Initiative (AACI) is hosting their 2025 Black History Month Wellness Event celebration! This is a free community event promoting arts and wellness for African Americans. Expect live music, resource fair, speakers, and health & wellness checks.
Date: Sat, 2/15/25
Time: 1:00PM- 4:00PM PST
Location: Eastside College Preparatory School (1041 Myrtle Street, East Palo Alto)
Contact: Dee Pennix at AACIInitiative@gmail.com
About AACI:
The mission of the African American Community Initiative is to become a known resource for African American Community members facing challenges with finding and utilizing mental health services, while addressing inequalities faced by African Americans in our county. Our vision is to build a community driven support system for reducing mental health and substance use treatment disparities, and the stigma of mental illness.
Learn more about their work here.
Hello,
The next MHSA Steering Committee meeting is on Thursday, February 6th from 3-4:30pm. Please note that this is a hybrid meeting. For those who want to join in person, we will be meeting at the San Mateo Library (55 W 3rd Ave in San Mateo). The Zoom link is included below if you prefer to join virtually and the phone line for those conferencing in.
The meeting flyer is attached. Agenda items include the Community Program Planning process for Prop. 1 transition to BHSA and the MHSA Annual Update for FY 2025-26. The latest information for MHSA can always be found on the MHSA website, http://www.smchealth.org/MHSA, under the “Announcements” tab.
Meeting Details:
San Mateo Library, Laurel Room, 55 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89224214146
Dial in: +1 669 900 6833 / Mtg ID: 892 2421 4146
Hello,
Every three years, Sequoia Hospital conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand the health and social issues that matter most to our community. As part of this effort, we’ve created a short and simple survey, available in both English and Spanish, for community members to share their thoughts.
We’re reaching out again to kindly ask for your help in spreading the word! Their feedback is invaluable—it will guide where we focus our programs and support, ensuring we address the real needs of those we serve. The survey only takes a few minutes, and every voice truly makes a difference. The survey will end on Friday, January 31st.
Please feel free to share the attached flyer with your members and networks. It includes a QR code for easy access to the survey in both English and Spanish. You can also share the direct links below:
Please complete the survey by Friday, January 31st.
Are you ready to transform your lived experience into a source of empowerment and positive change? The Lived Experience Academy (LEA) is an inspiring and supportive program designed for individuals with lived experience as consumers of behavioral health services—or as close relatives or loved ones. This academy offers participants the opportunity to leverage their personal journeys to make a lasting impact in their communities and within the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) system.
What You’ll Gain:
Program Highlights:
Participant Expectations:
The LEA is not just a course—it’s an opportunity to channel your unique perspective into tools for advocacy and systemic transformation. Whether you’re new to the Academy or have previously been involved, we encourage you to apply or share this opportunity with others.
How to Apply:
Applications are now being accepted for our next session. The deadline to apply is Sunday January 19. Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard and inspire change! Apply HERE.
In December 2024, San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services(BHRS) submitted a comprehensive three-year Cultural Competency Plan, showcasing our ongoing efforts to support our diverse communities through culturally and linguistically responsive services. This annual requirement, set by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), helps us track and reflect on our progress in advancing behavioral health equity across our system.
Key areas of focus in the report include our commitment to cultural competence as a system of care, strategies for reducing disparities, efforts to grow a multicultural workforce, and enhancing language capacity to better serve our community. Additionally, the plan highlights our dedication to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and trauma-informed systems within our organization.
This submission highlights the trends, challenges, and accomplishments of BHRS during fiscal years 2021 through 2024—a period marked by significant transitions as we collectively recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, welcoming new leadership, and prepare for statewide systemic changes.
We recognize this report reflects the lived experiences, needs, and resilience of the individuals and families we serve. These stories are a testament to the strength of our communities and the importance of equitable access to care. We also recognize the dedication and hard work of our BHRS team members and partnering organizations, whose efforts have a direct and meaningful impact on advancing equity and fostering healing within our communities.
Thank you, BHRS, for your unwavering commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, and belong in behavioral health care. Together, we are making a difference.
View the updated plan here.
To stay connected and actively participate in these efforts, we encourage you to:
Let’s continue to work together to create a healthier, more equitable future for all.
Written by Frances Lobos, San Mateo County BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity
Last Fall, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity and Equity (BHRS ODE) hosted 3 Parent Project® classes. In partnership with StarVista, we hosted on virtual English class, facilitated by Ivan Marquez and Jackie Cisneros and one virtual Spanish class facilitated by Leonela Zavalza and Karen Palomino Velazquez. This semester we also began our partnership with Community Alliance to Revitalize Our Neighborhoods (CARON), where we collaborated to host one in-person Spanish Course at the Half Moon Bay Library. We are beyond thrilled to have celebrated 61 new official Parent Project® graduates, and 13 participants, ultimately serving 74 parents and caregivers of San Mateo County!
This semester featured a lot of notable highlights for the Parent Project® program, one of them being that all of our classes received a presentation from Alcohol and Other Drug’s (AOD) department’s Dr. Ronni Brown, Alex Perez, and Gabriel Lemus. The AOD Overdose Education & Response educated parents on the dangers of fentanyl, how to recognize an overdose, how to utilize Narcan, and how to access BHRS’ substance use services. AOD even distributed Narcan and Fentanyl test strips to our Parent Project® participants. The Office of Diversity and Equity would like to thank the AOD team for supporting the parents and caregivers of San Mateo County! In addition, BHRS ODE provided our general presentation introducing BHRS, our office at ODE, the Health Ambassador Program, as well as how to access Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. For the first time in Parent Project history, we had the Health Ambassadors, Cynthia Castro and Amada Espinoza, facilitate a Know the Signs Workshop, with the support of ODE’s Health Education Associate, Maria Martinez. Know the Signs is a training where participants learn to recognize the signs of suicide in another individual, and how to approach this concern via conversation and appropriate (BHRS) resources. We are so thankful to our Health Ambassador Program for helping our Parent Project® participants to initiate their journey to becoming prospective Health Ambassadors by providing a Know the Signs workshop at one of our Parent Project classes!
Finally, thank you to our partners at StarVista for celebrating our Parent Project® graduates and participants with in-person graduations featuring family activities and holiday raffles for Parent Project® participants to enjoy. We would also like to thank CARON for their in-person graduation featuring resources tables and presentations from the Half Moon Bay Library, Sheriff’s Activity League, Coastside Hope, City of Half Moon Bay, and San Mateo County’s Office of Community Affairs, and even a special visit from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, therapy dog, Maverick!
Here at BHRS ODE, we wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you at our Spring 2025 semester of Parent Project coming soon.
Written by Nicoletta Kelleher, Parent Project Coordinator
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Latest Updates
Monthly Meetings
UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (In-Person)
ASIST is a two-day in person interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may be at risk for suicide and work with them to create a plan to support their immediate safety. Skills learned in one environment are transferable to others, creating a life-saving impact across the community.
This course is offered by San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity:
ASIST Training Registration Form for San Mateo 2024-2025
Mental Health First Aid and Be Sensitive Be Brave Trainings
Click here to register for the 01/08/25 training from 4:30pm – 6:45pm
https://www.kingdomlove.live/trainings/event-four-6kk5r
Dedicated to empowering youth and families in underserved communities through evidence-based mental health training, Kingdom Love LLC focus is on strengthening family and community connections by providing accessible, skill-based education that fosters a shared understanding for prevention and early intervention.
To learn more and register for upcoming trainings, visit:
https://www.kingdomlove.live/trainings
IN THE NEWS
This section includes news that intersects with our local suicide prevention work:
Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Director Newsletter (December 2024)
County Announces Appointment of New Health Chief
https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/county-announces-appointment-new-health-chief
San Mateo County Supervisors Bolster Gun Violence Prevention
https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/san-mateo-county-supervisors-bolster-gun-violence-prevention
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES
CRISIS RESOURCES
NON-CRISIS RESOURCES
This is a two-hour foundational workshop that infuses culture and diversity throughout. The County offers a Mental Health version and a Suicide Prevention version.MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
This is an eight-hour skills-based training course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health or substance uses signs or crises. The County offers a youth and adult version of this workshop.
For more information about both trainings above, please contact: Sylvia Tang stang@smcgov.org
CALL TO ACTION!
We have the power to make a difference.
By spreading awareness, providing support, and advocate for change, we can help people create aa world where they feel seen, heard, and supported. Here are ways you can help:
Actively participate in the next SPC meeting:
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Web Browser: https://zoom.us/j/410362485
(Meeting ID: 410 362 485)
One-Tap Phone: +16699006833,,410362485#
Phone (dial-in): +1 669 900 6833 US
(San Jose) Meeting ID: 410 362 485
Invite Someone New!
Ask new stakeholder, partner, agency, organization, community member to join the SPC mailing list.
Announcements?
Have an important commission meeting?
Upcoming event you would like to highlight?
Send an email by the second Tuesday of each month for co-chairs review to: walter.ng@star-vista.org
QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK?
READY TO GET INVOLVED?
CONTACT US!
Martha Cervantes, LMFT #129448 (She/Her)
Director of StarVista Crisis Services
martha.cervantes@star-vista.org
(650) 208 – 3057
Sylvia Tang, MPP (She/Her)
Community Health Planner
San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE)
stang@smcgov.org
(650) 208 – 5799
Walter Ng (He/Him)
Program Coordinator of StarVista Crisis Services
walter.ng@star-vista.org
(650) 722 – 7652
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