Tag Archives: Behavioral Health & Recovery Services

Draft BHSA Three Year Integrated Plan for fiscal years 2026-2029 Now Available for Review

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The draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three Year Integrated Plan for fiscal years 2026-2029 is now available for review on the MHSA and BHSA transition websites.

The draft IP will be available for review and public comment for a minimum of 30 days through Friday, March 6th, 2026. Community members are encouraged to read and submit feedback on the draft IP, as follows:

2024 Suicide Prevention Month: Learn More About Substance Use Disorder

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People experiencing Substance Use Disorder may use tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or opioids to cope with significant physical or emotional distress. However, instead of alleviating pain, Substance Use Disorder can increase the risk of suicide.

To learn more, explore our new resource: https://takeaction4mh.com/toolkit-categories/suicideprevention/ (link in bio) To attend events, get involved and find resources, visit SMCSuicidePrevention.com

Events happening this week:
💜 9/13 at 5:30PM in San Mateo | Open Book, Open Hearts Workshop – This workshop will provide insight on the importance of self-care for mental health, an overview of warning signs for suicide prevention, and share community resources.
💜 9/14 at 12PM in Foster City | One at a Time Workshop – The goal of the workshop is to educate about mental health and suicidality by shifting the focus to prevention strategies and outlining steps that can be taken prior to crisis.
💜 9/15 at 1PM in San Carlos | One at a Time Workshop – The goal of the workshop is to educate about mental health and suicidality by shifting the focus to prevention strategies and outlining steps that can be taken prior to crisis.
💜 9/17 at 10AM in Belmont | Suicide Prevention Awareness for Seniors- Participants will learn what the risk factors are and the warning signs of suicide, how to utilize effective coping strategies, build resilience, and where local community resources are located.

ICYMI: Board of Supervisors Proclaim 2024 May Mental Health Month

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On Tuesday, 5/21/24, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors proclaimed 2024 May as Mental Health Month. The proclamation was accompanied by presentations from Dr. Jei Africa, Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services and Sylvia Tang, co-chair of the Mental Health Month Planning Committee. Lived experience speakers, Gina Olinger-Giani and Joanna (Jo) Padilla, also shared their personal stories for why mental health matters.

Padilla stated, “For me, self efficacy and self-advocacy are a form of my recovery. I am forever grateful and love the resources available, but we must continue to fund these programs and encourage the initiatives to support stipends for those that are willing to participate in their better mental health.”

Before Supervisor Canepa made his motion to declare May as Mental Health Month, he addressed San Mateo County’s loneliness crisis, “The days of saying mental health doesn’t exist, those days are over… In San Mateo County we have 45% of people who feel alone. This equates, according to our surgeon general, to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.”

In January 2024, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors declared loneliness as a public health emergency. Read more in the article here.

Join San Mateo County’s 2024 May Mental Health Month Planning Committee!

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Update: April 18 meeting moved to May 2. See info below.

We welcome you to join our 2024 May Mental Health Month Planning Committee meetings (schedule below and in attached flyer).

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsfuqhqDgqGtRlg10zsFa3Aasvi2sayaqp.  

Day of the WeekDateTimeLocationFocus
ThursdayFeb 153:30-5:00pmZoomIntroduction & Measures of Success
ThursdayMarch 73:30-5:00pmZoomEvents & Advocacy
ThursdayMarch 283:30-5:00pmZoomCommunication & Outreach
ThursdayApril 18
May 2		3:30-5:00pmIn-person at 310 Harbor Blvd Bldg E, BelmontGroup Photo + Outreach Materials
ThursdayJune 63:30-5:00pmZoomDebrief and Appreciation

All except one of our meetings is scheduled to meet virtually. Please see above for details. You can find agenda, minutes and recordings at this website. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, please let us know. We plan to share the meeting recordings and minutes in case anyone wants to catch up or review the meetings. Contact us for questions, comments and suggestions.

Please help us share this message or attached flyer on social media to help us spread the word.

Looking forward to collaborating with you!
Sylvia & Kristie
Co-Chairs, May Mental Health Month Planning Committee Meeting

2024-May-Mental-Health-Planning-Committee-Flyer-Download

2024 Spring Parent Project Classes are Here!

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Hi, all,

I am excited to announce that the Parent Project® Spring 2024 semester is finally here! Please help spread the word about our Spring 2024 semester by sharing the flyers attached below with your networks and referring your clients to our classes. This semester will feature one virtual English class, beginning on Wednesday, February 28th, and one in-person Spanish class beginning on Thursday, February 29th. Please see the attached flyers for more information. We are expecting to provide more classes beginning in March, so please keep an eye out for my emails in the coming months for more class updates!

Community members can refer to the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity’s Parent Project® webpage for more information on our upcoming classes, the all-class flyer, and more. If community members prefer other Parent Project® class options, they can refer to the main Parent Project® website to find virtual or in-person classes in their area.  

If you would like to learn more about the Parent Project® program, or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via my email or phone number at nkelleher@smcgov.org or (650) 649-8411. 

Wednesday-Spring-2024-English-Virtual-ClassDownload
Thursday-Spring-2024-Spanish-In-Person-ClassDownload

2023 Tony Hoffman Award | Deadline 4/17

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The Tony Hoffman Community Mental Health Services Award recognizes individuals, professionals, businesses, and the media who have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with mental illness and the communities in which they live.

Recognition is given for public education or advocacy to promote mental health awareness and needs or to address stigma; public education and services to provide housing and employment for persons with mental illness; creation of new and innovative programs or community support activities; recognition of fundraising for mental health activities or long-term financial support to mental health programs; or working for new mental health legislation.

We also honor mental health consumers who, in their journey of recovery, are able to give back to their peers or the community. Awards are presented each May during Mental Health Month. 

See nomination form below.

Tony-Hoffman-Application_2023.1Download

Become a Cultural Humility Trainer Through 5-Day Training!

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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.

Cultural-Humility-TOT-2023-FlyerDownload

Help Name the Future Cordilleras Behavioral Health Campus

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San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services would like your help in naming the future Cordilleras Behavioral Health Campus and its five new buildings— a Campus Center and four Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers (see digital rendering) currently under construction in the unincorporated area of Redwood City.  

The names should center around themes such as recovery, wellness, healing, and nature to capitalize on its beautiful, serene, natural setting to complement the process of wellness, rehabilitation, and recovery, as well as incorporate the vision of the project.

  

Submit suggestions using this form by November 23, 2022. 

A diverse committee will review and select the future names, which will be announced before the new programs open.    

About the programs that will be housed at the future Cordilleras Behavioral Health Campus:
The future Cordilleras Behavioral Health campus has been designed to provide a world-class healing therapeutic environment that is far more homelike and far less institutional. This came about from an extensive review of best clinical practices, as well as campus and building models around the world. Treating people in a smaller-scale, more homelike setting reduces social isolation and creates a more natural environment for healing and social skills training, thereby mitigating problems related to adjustment and recovery. There will be four 16-bed mental health rehabilitation centers and co-housing for 57 residents along with a Campus Center. Construction of the new $155 million campus is currently underway next to the current facility. Completion is slated for the fall of 2023. Learn more about this project.  

For questions, please contact Terry Wilcox-Rittgers, BHRS special projects coordinator at twilcox-rittgers@smcgov.org. 

Samaritan House Transportation Resources

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Community Transportation Benefits Program

What is the Community Transportation Benefits Program?
The Community Transportation Benefits Program (Program) is sponsored and funded by the San Mateo
County 101 Express Lanes. The Program helps qualifying San Mateo County residents cover some of their
transportation costs.

How do I enroll?
There are eight Core Service Agencies that work in close collaboration with the Human Services Agency of
San Mateo County to provide you and your family with basic emergency and support services. You can enroll
for the Community Transportation Benefits Program through any of the following Core Service Agencies either
virtually or in-person. Their contact information can be found below:

Commute.org

Commute.org is your go-to resource to improve how you get to work.
Visit Commute.org to learn more about rewards and resources to help with your commute.

Commute Resources
– Shuttles: Free shuttles to BART and Caltrain
– Trip Planning assistance: Send us a request or use our online STAR trip
planning tool
– E-news: Sign up to stay connected with us

Learn more at Commute.org.

Community-Transportation-Benefits-Program-Factsheet_ENG.1pgDownload
Community-Transportation-Benefits-Program-Factsheet_SP.1PGDownload
Get-Rewarded-Flyer-2-for-101-equity-project-spanish-and-englishDownload

Health Ambassadors Join NAMIWalks 2022

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16 BHRS-Health Ambassadors and their families and pets attended the first NAMIWalks held in San Mateo County. BHRS’ Office of Diversity & Equity and Office of Consumer & Family Affairs offered San Mateo County resources at the fair.

NAMIWalks Your Way 2022 came to San Mateo County for the very first time on Saturday, October 8th at Seal Point Park in San Mateo. NAMIWalks Your Way is an opportunity to unite and magnify mental health awareness across the country. We’re all in this together, and together we walk towards a future where Mental Health for All is a reality. 

To learn more about the Health Ambassador Program contact Charo Martinez at (650) 372-6136 or email mmartinezresendiz@smcgov.org.

Written by Charo Martinez (ella/sher/her), BHRS’ Office of Diversity & Equity

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