Tag Archives: bhrs

Looking for Volunteers for the 2026 SMC Pride Celebration!

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As the months get warmer, we get closer to San Mateo County’s annual PRIDE celebration! This year’s theme is Unite, Empower, Resist, PRIDE 2026, and the celebration will be held on Saturday, June 13th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at San Mateo Central Park.

San Mateo County provides this family-friendly event to uplift our goal of unity and inclusion and show the resilience of the queer community. If you would like to share your time please consider volunteering to support the event. 

Any questions can be directed to Kai Thornton at Kthornton1@smcgov.org.

Draft BHSA 3-Yr Integrated Plan coming out soon

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Hello BHSA Taskforce and community members,

We are pleased to announce that the draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three Year Integrated Plan (IP) for fiscal years 2026-2029 will be presented at the Behavioral Health Commission (BHC) on Wednesday, February 4th. 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:

Additionally, community members are welcome to attend the BHC meeting on February 4th to hear the presentation on the draft plan. You may attend in-person or via Zoom. Meeting information is provided below, as well as some quick tips for how to give public comment at a public meeting:

Behavioral Health Commission
Wednesday, February 4th 3:30-5:30pm
2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Room 201, San Mateo, CA 94403
Zoom link: https://smcgov.zoom.us/j/94275521280?pwd=ZnRUTDFSMGI5VVVPTkdiS3NaZW9MQT09
Passcode: 457259

Quick Tips – How to Give Public Comment at a public meeting

2026 George Culores Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open

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The George Culores Hall of Fame award recognizes consumer/clients who have made contributions to better the lives of other consumer/clients; shown leadership in the consumer movement or have a personal journey of recovery that inspires and gives hope to others.  

Deadline to submit a nomination form is January 9, 2026. See nomination form below.

The award will be presented at the Behavioral Health Commission meeting on February, 4, 2026.

Learn more about the George Culores Hall of Fame Award here.

Half of Fame 2026 Nomination FormDownload

BHSA 3-Year Integrated Plan Community Survey

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Hello! You are invited to participate in the Prop 1 – Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three-Year Integrated Plan Community Survey. The goal of the survey is to gather community perspectives and prioritize strategies related to seven statewide behavioral health goals, to help inform the BHSA Three-Year Integrated Plan. Through this survey, we want to hear from you on which strategies will have the greatest impact over the next three years. Your input is very valuable and appreciated! 

The survey is anonymous and should take approximately 7-10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your participation! 

For English: CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY (ENG), or copy and paste the URL into your browser: https://tinyurl.com/BHSA-Community-Survey

For Spanish: ClICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY (SP), or copy and paste the URL into your browser: https://tinyurl.com/BHSA-Community-Survey-Spanish

If you have any questions or challenges accessing the survey link, please contact Sofia Recalde at srecalde@smcgov.org. Thank you for your participation!

BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity Wins 2025 Countywide Dance-Off! 

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The BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) danced their way to victory in the 2025 Countywide Dance-Off Video Competition, proudly taking home the first-ever Dance-Off Trophy! Competing under the name “Keeping It ODE School,” the team impressed with their creativity, rhythm, and infectious joy, earning top marks for spirit, teamwork, and inclusivity.

What made this year’s win even more meaningful was ODE’s commitment to making their performance accessible and inclusive for all participants. The team designed their performance to be ADA-accessible, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, could participate fully and comfortably. This intentional inclusivity reflects BHRS’s core values and demonstrates how fun and equity can go hand in hand.

Beyond the dance floor, this win highlights the importance of staff wellness, morale, and connection. In a field where we spend so much time supporting others, it’s vital to nurture our own sense of joy and belonging. The dance competition offered a chance for movement, laughter, and creativity, building stronger bonds among colleagues and reinforcing the healing power of fun and community.

Participating in this friendly countywide challenge also fostered team building and connection, allowing staff to engage in new ways outside their usual roles. The experience showcased ODE’s collaborative spirit, positive energy, and unwavering commitment to equity in all that they do.

As the proud recipients of the first County Dance-Off Trophy, Keeping It ODE School encourages other BHRS teams to join the fun next year! This competition isn’t just about winning, it’s about wellness, inclusion, and celebrating the creativity that makes our workforce so vibrant.

Congratulations to the ODE team for setting the standard for joy, inclusion, and community connection, one dance step at a time!

18th Annual Housing Hero

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On Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, the San Mateo County Change Housing Committee hosted the 18th Annual Housing Hero Awards at Redwood Shores Library. Led by Behavioral and Recovery Services(BHRS)’ Kesley Dattilo, Mariana Rocha, and recently retired, Lee Harrison, this event was held to honor the individuals and teams that tirelessly to support our San Mateo County community members in obtaining and maintaining stable housing during their recovery journeys.  

The BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) had the great pleasure of being a part of this event by providing live Spanish interpretation through interpretation devices, provided by Excel. In addition, we displayed our Housing Photovoices in order to amplify the importance that housing plays in one’s behavioral health recovery. Our Photovoice participants, Jo Padilla, Ivy Clark, and Cynthia Castro came to support the event and see their final Photovoice projects on display. Ivy Clark shared her lived experience as it relates to navigating housing with a substance use condition as described in her Photovoice project. Along with our Photovoice Housing participants, we were joined by our previous Housing Photovoice facilitator, Lee Harrison as well as our longstanding ODE Health Ambassador and Housing Photovoice co-facilitator, John Butler. John shared some insights around the power of Photovoice and the impact stable housing has had on his own wellness and recovery. 

The Photovoice program hosted a Photovoice Pop-Up booth in both Spanish and English. This Photovoice Pop-Up served to recognize housing stability and its importance in one’s journey to recovery from co-occurring substance use, mental health and primary health conditions. Attendees were asked to answer the prompts “How does stable housing enhance one’s recovery?” and “What role does housing play in one’s wellness?” The pop-up intended to capture the person behind the story, printing their photo on the spot and supporting them in using their voice to share their stories on paper. This allowed for the San Mateo County community to see firsthand how important housing is to individuals in their journey to recovery, reminding all of us that real people have real needs when it comes to stable housing. We would like to thank the contributors of the Housing Hero Awards for taking the time to honor our community partners and colleagues who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing and/or maintaining housing for San Mateo County residents with co-occurring issues. 

We extend our congratulations the honorees who were awarded for their exceptional leadership in providing and/or maintaining housing for San Mateo County residents with co-occurring issues include:  

  • Andrea Carrara, Housing Specialist of Mental Health Association of San Mateo County 
  • Kimberly Cotton, Quality Assurance Manager of Mental Health Association of San Mateo County 
  • Roni DeLeon, Former Community Director at Alta Housing 
  • Stacy Townsend and Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, Housing Program 
  • The Bridges to Wellness Case Management Team  
  • Lee Harrison- The Honorable Carole Groom Housing Leadership Award 

At the Office of Diversity and Equity, we would like to recognize and thank all of the important individuals who were involved in putting this event together from the Change Agent Housing Committee (Housing Heros Committee) for their outstanding efforts in planning this event, and including the Office of Diversity and Equity’s Photovoice program and Language Access Services (LAS) to be included in this event. Many thanks to…  

  • Brooke Stacey of Human Services Agency (H.S.A.) 
  • Faith Garcia of Housing Authority 
  • Gini Lilani of Caminar 
  • Lee Harrison (community member – retired from BHRS) 
  • Mariana Rocha of BHRS 
  • Terrell Fortune of BHRS 
  • Theresa Cossman of Abode 
  • Zachary Comtois of BHRS 
  • Kelsey Dattilo of BHRS 
  • Georgia Peterson of MHA (Mental Health Association) 
  • Gozel Kulieva of Healthcare for the Homeless/Farmworkers Health Program 

Lastly, the planning committee would like to thank BHRS ODE, Voices of Recovery, Samaritan House and Shelldance Gardens.  

To learn more about Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Housing Services, please contact Kelsey Dattilo at kdattilo@smcgov.org and Mariana Rocha at mrocha@smcgov.org. 

Interfaith National Day of Prayer Ignites Healing and Hope

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San Mateo County (SMC) Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) held its 10th annual Interfaith National Day of Prayer on October 11, 2025. This event brought together community and faith leaders from diverse traditions to promote healing, unity, and collective well-being across all spiritual and religious beliefs.

The event opened with a land acknowledgment by the Native and Indigenous Peoples Initiative (NIPI) and an ancestral blessing by Ramona Laughing Brook Webb. Elder Pam Ward Pious, Co-Chair of the Spirituality Initiative, shared her lived experience and poetry on the power of faith and resilience. Reverend Katie Goetz spoke about the day’s meaning and her congregation’s inclusive welcome message.

Dr. Maria Lorente-Foresti shared insights on the connection between spirituality and healing, highlighting how BHRS supports spiritual well-being through its policies and Health Equity Initiatives. Yolanda Ramirez, from the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs (OCFA), led a bilingual reading of the Serenity Prayer. Dr. Tia Bell closed with a guided meditation centering on peace and renewal.

A particularly moving part of the program was when courageous community members shared how faith has guided their recovery and wellness journeys. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sam, Ebony, Riley, and Armando for their openness, hope, and resilience, which illuminated the path of healing and inspired others through faith and connection.

The SMC Interfaith National Day of Prayer reminded us that healing and hope strengthen when we unite in compassion and collective strength.

Written by Dr. Tia Bell, BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity

SAVE THE DATE: 11/20- 2025 Transgender Day of Remembrance

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Please save the date for the 2025 Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on 11/20/25 from 5:30PM-7:30PM at South San Francisco’s Park and Recreation Center (33 Arroyo Dr, SSF). More details about how to RSVP coming soon. 

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.

TDOR 2025 FlyerDownload

11/15- 2025 Sana, Sana, Colita de Rana

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Please join us for our 12th Annual Sana Sana, Colita de Rana event that is co-sponsored by BHRS’ Latino/a/x Collaborative, ALAS, Spiritualiy Initiative and BHRS’ Office of Diversity & Equity.

What is Sana Sana Colita de Rana? This endearing phrase is based on a common children’s rhyme in Spanish about a little frog’s tail healing to offer comfort and to build resilience, especially when a child has been wounded or hurt. When translated literally it means “heal, heal, little frog’s tail.” This expression is commonly used in many Latino/a/x communities to offer consolation when one, specifically a child, has fallen or gotten hurt. The phrase continues with “if you don’t heal today, you will heal tomorrow.” At its core, this message is meant to offer relentless encouragement, that while we may be suffering today, things will get better tomorrow. ​ 

Date/ time: Saturday, November 15th, 2025 from 1PM-4PM.
In-person Location: Foster City Community Center – Wind Room & Patio (1000 E Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City) 
Virtual Location: More info to come
About the event: This is a family-friendly event to promote health and wellness among our Latino/a/x community in SMC. This event will be in Spanish with English interpretation for main events.

This year’s theme is “Where Community Flourishes, Freedom & Well-being are Born”

We are proud to share that our keynote speaker will be Ziomara Ochoa Rodriguez

Additionally, we will have on-site health screenings, food, Zumba Dance Therapy, music, resource booths, and so much more.

No registration required. 

About the event host: This event is hosted by Latino/a/x Collaborative, one of our BHRS Health Equity Initiatives (HEI).
Our HEI’s were created to ensure that all members of our community are afforded access to services and quality care. The initiatives are dedicated to representing specific cultural communities that have been underserved, inappropriately served, or unserved. Their work has assisted us in decreasing stigma, educating and empowering our communities, supporting wellness and recovery, building culturally responsive service, and being a bridge to our County services.

BHRS Transformation Journey Communications Survey

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Later this month, BHRS will launch a communications campaign to build awareness and excitement around the BHRS Transformation Journey, helping staff and external audiences to better understand the transformation and what it means in their roles. Prior to launching, we need your help in completing a survey to better understand current awareness of and feelings toward the Transformation and communications preferences across various audience groups. 

Understanding how staff and community members think, feel, and best engage with current messaging will allow BHRS to tailor the campaign to better meet their expectations, improve clarity, and drive meaningful engagement. ​Topics covered in the survey include:

  • Familiarity with the BHRS Transformation ​
  • Sentiment around BHRS Transformation ​
  • Effectiveness of key messages​
  • Preferred communications channels and messengers ​
  • Preferred tools and resources 

The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Click on this link BHRS Transformation Journey – Communications Survey to complete the survey. If you have any questions or challenges accessing the survey link, please contact Sofia Recalde at srecalde@smcgov.org.

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