Tag Archives: bhrs

2/14 – Free Naloxone Administration Training

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Hello,

You are invited to a free naloxone administration training on Friday, February 14 from 9-10 am at 2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, in the Atrium Room. 

San Mateo County BHRS invites you to an informative presentation on overdose prevention, how to recognize symptoms of an overdose and what to do about it! Attendees will receive a free box of naloxone. 

*Please note this session will be filmed as part of a training demonstration project with the UCSF Alumni Program.*

Our very own Dr. Ronni Brown was named recipient of the 2025 UCSF Alumni Practitioner Award, recognizing an alumnus whose work demonstrates clinical empathy, understanding and caring within health care. To help honor this achievement, UCSF will be getting video footage of Ronni administering the training. 

2/7 – Legal Aid of San Mateo County Presentation

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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)

Suicide Prevention Committee Newsletter – February 2025

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The Suicide Prevention Committee (SPC) provides oversight and direction to suicide prevention efforts in San Mateo County. Led by the Office of Diversity and Equity at San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, the committee is comprised of suicide attempt survivors, suicide loss survivors, behavioral health providers, social service providers, local transportation agency staff, and other community members passionate about preventing suicide in our community.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Latest Updates

  •  Suicide Prevention Committee are proposing new projects, including a new resource flyer, data visualization and video series. More details to be shared in upcoming meetings.

Monthly Meetings

  • Upcoming Meeting: Tuesday, 02/04/2025 1:30pm – 3pm
    • Topic: Resource Flyer & Suicide Data Visualization Project
  • Prior Meeting: Tuesday, 01/07/2025 1:30pm – 3pm
    • Topic: Review Priorities 2025 & Key Partners Matrix
  • 2025 Meeting Schedule
Read more

2/6- Upcoming MHSA Steering Committee Meeting: Prop 1 Transition to BHSA

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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

MHSA Steering Cmttee Flyer_020625Download

Parent Project Celebrates a Successful 2024!

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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

2024 Suicide Prevention Month: Check-in with Youths

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Whether or not you have kids, you know what it’s like to be a young person. It’s not always easy. A lot of young people are struggling with thoughts of suicide, so it’s important for them to know they have people in their corner. Check in on young people you care about, and let them know you’re here whenever they need help or just need someone to listen. For more information on suicide prevention, go to https://smcsuicideprevention.com

Events happening this week:
💜9/26 – You Matter: Youth Suicide Prevention Day at allcove in San Mateo
💜 9/30 – Reconozca las Señales de Suicidio en la Comunidad Latinx at 650 Main St, Redwood City

2024 Suicide Prevention Month: 988

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Need help right now? The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is open 24/7, confidential, and free of charge. When you call or text 988, or chat on the website, you’ll be connected with a trained counselor who will listen to what you’re going through without judgment. And they’ll work with you to create a plan to keep you safe. You can also contact 988 if you’re worried about someone in your life. Get in touch on your own, or together. Call or text 988 on your phone, or chat on mobile or desktop at https://988lifeline.org/chat/

Events happening this week:
💜9/26 – You Matter: Youth Suicide Prevention Day at allcove in San Mateo
💜 9/30 – Reconozca las Señales de Suicidio en la Comunidad Latinx at 650 Main St, Redwood City

2024 Suicide Prevention Month: 2SLGBTQIA+

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When it comes to 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health and suicide prevention, community is a powerful and protective force. Individuals thrive when they’re accepted and embraced by family, friends, and peers. If you’re 2SLGBTQIA+ and having a tough time, there are always people you can talk to. Connect with @trevorproject or @translifeline, or find the 2SLGBTQIA+ community center nearest to you.

Events happening this week:
💜 9/19 – Reconozca las Señales de Suicidio en la Comunidad Latinx at Eedwood City Public Library
💜 9/23 – Reconozca las Señales de Suicidio en la Comunidad Latinx at 650 Main St, Redwood City
💜9/26 – You Matter: Youth Suicide Prevention Day at allcove in San Mateo

For more information on suicide prevention, go to https://smcsuicideprevention.com (link in bio) #SuicidePrevention #SuicidePreventionMonth

2024 World Suicide Prevention Day: Change the Narrative

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Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year’s theme is “Change the Narrative”— because it’s time to talk more openly and honestly about suicide and suicide prevention. That can start with lighting a candle. Put it near your window at 8 PM tonight to visibly show your support for preventing suicide in our communities. It’s also a way to honor loved ones we have lost, and loved ones who have survived. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay Learn more at SMCSuicideprevention.com

Events happening this week:
💜 9/10 at 4PM in Belmont in San Mateo | Communal Candle Decorating Workshop – Join us as we decorate candles to show support for suicide prevention and to remember a lost loved one.
💜 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.

David Lewis Nomination Deadline Extended to 8/30

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Nomination form for the 2024 David Lewis Award is now open. Deadline to submit nomination form has been extended to August 30th, 2024.

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to substance abuse recovery through successful programs, community education, stigma reduction or client advocacy. David Lewis was a long-term employee of San Mateo County Health. He was the co-founder and president of the Board of Directors of “Free at Last,” a substance abuse treatment and prevention agency in East Palo Alto that seeks to break the cycle of addiction, rebuild families, foster education and economic self sufficiency, and contribute to the health and safety of the community.

Download nomination form below.

David Lewis Award nomination form_fillable_2024

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