Tag Archives: Diversity and Equity Council

Join the Diversity and Equity Council!

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The Diversity and Equity Council (DEC) works to ensure that topics concerning diversity, health disparities, stigma reduction, and health equity are reflected in the work of San Mateo County’s mental health and substance use services. The DEC is open to BHRS staff, contracted providers, community members, and encourages participation of consumers/clients/family members by providing stipends or honorariums for ongoing participation.  

Over the past year, the DEC in collaboration with community partners hosted a series of Town Halls on Race & COVID-19 to share county efforts and hear from community voices about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This information was used to identify priorities and it was shared to inform the County’s larger recovery plan. Starting in 2022 the DEC will be focusing on implementing a strategic plan that supports continued collaboration with BHRS​, Health Equity Initiatives, Community-Based Organizations, and the community at large.  

We invite you to join us! The DEC meets virtually every first Friday of the month from 11-12:30pm. For meeting details and more information please contact DEC Co-chairs Brenda Nuñez at brenda.nunez@star-vista.org or Frances Lobos at flobos@smcgov.org.

Writen by Frances Lobos & Brenda Nuñez, DEC Co-Chairs

4th Community & COVID Town Hall

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On behalf of the collaborators that brought you the “Race & COVID-19” Town Hall series in 2020, we’d like to invite you to our 4th Town Hall: “Community & Coronavirus: a year later” that will take place on Thursday, April 29th at 3pm. Together we’ve experienced so much in the past year, this event will be dedicated to acknowledging our collective challenges, growth and experiences. We will ask for your input on what supports are still needed and what are the priorities of our communities as we continue to respond to the pandemic.

As a result to the feedback we received during the previous Town Halls, Digital literacy trainings, resource guides, and needs assessments for some of our marginalized groups have been conducted and made available to communities throughout San Mateo County.

Join us to get an update on San Mateo County efforts and to hear from your fellow community members and leaders as we continue to work toward healing and recovery.

Please share this information widely, we look forward to a great dialogue.

REGISTRATION LINK

4th-COMMUNITY-CORONAVIRUS-TOWN-HALL_SP & ENG FLYERDownload

Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

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According to The White House, the new executive order explicitly aims to advance racial equity in the federal government, eliminates restrictions on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion(DEI) training, and disbands the 1776 Commission. It also establishes a Domestic Policy Council to explore opportunities for centering equity in federal work and charges the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with establishing best practices for equity measurement.

President Biden states in his order,

“It is therefore the policy of my Administration that the Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.  Affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.”

For the full executive order, read here.

11/13 – Race & Coronavirus 3rd Town Hall

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Please join us for our third Race & Coronavirus Town Hall event on Friday November 13th from 11am-1pm. You can register for event here. The focus of this town hall will be on CBOs/community organizations and their experience during pandemic. In preparation for this event, we sent out a survey to hear from community organizations, the finding from survey will be presented at Town Hall. Additionally, we will be hearing from SMC leadership on COVID-19 recovery plan.  We will have the opportunity to hear directly from community organization representatives during a panel discussion. Attachment includes event flyer in English and Spanish, please support us by sharing this with you community. 

Thank you so much, I hope to see you all on Nov. 13th!

In Community,
DEC Co- Chairs & Town Hall Planning Committee 

9/18 | Resiliency and Connection During COVID-19 Livestream

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Please join us this Friday, 9/18 for Diversity and Equity Council‘s(DEC) Live Stream on Resiliency and Connection During COVID-19. The Live Stream will be hosted through San Mateo County Health’s Facebook and will be discussing how to stay connected safely, strategies to keep community traditions alive and coping tips for older adults and youth.

The event will be hosted from 2:00-3:00pm in English and then again from 3:30pm-4:30pm in Spanish. Here are the links for both events: 

We look forward to hearing from you then! Please share our flyer with your networks.

Missed the Race and COVID-19 TownHall? Watch here!

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The impacts of COVID-19 have touched us all. However, it has been particularly concerning for our marginalized communities. The pandemic has highlighted how individuals with lack of adequate health insurance coverage, employment instability, economic uncertainty and limited ability to physically distance due to their work or housing situations are at greater risk of the physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19.

San Mateo County Race and Coronavirus Town Hall – May 1, 2020, was hosted by the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity in collaboration with StarVista, Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council, Get Healthy San Mateo County, and Catholic Charities to provide accurate information and resources, hearing community voices to inform the work and support in reaching all those in need across San Mateo County.

For more information, please contact Office of Diversity and Equity at ODE@smcgov.org.

5/1- Race & Coronavirus Townhall

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To register click here.

On behalf of the Diversity and Equity Council (DEC), please join community partners in a discussion on COVID-19 related impacts o people of color, LGBTQ+, and low-income communities. We will discuss priorities and strategies to support or communities.

For questions or additional information, please contact the DEC Co-Chairs Brenda Nunez at brenda.nunez@star-vista.org | (650) 477-4295 or Frances Lobos at flobos@smcgov.org | (650) 372-3272