On December 12, 2025, San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) celebrated a major milestone at the BHRS Health Ambassador Program (HAP) graduation. Guided by the theme “10 Years of Connection, Trust, and Healing — 100 Messengers of Hope,” the event honored a decade of community-led impact and the largest graduating class in the program’s history.
More than 200 community members, clients, partners, and BHRS staff gathered to celebrate this achievement. With the addition of this cohort, the Health Ambassador Program has surpassed 100 graduates—each one a trusted messenger of hope who bridges systems and communities. Health Ambassadors support individuals, families, and the behavioral health workforce by sharing culturally responsive information, expanding awareness of services, strengthening pathways into behavioral health careers, and connecting people to care throughout San Mateo County.
Data from the Health Ambassador Program year-end report, fiscal year 24-25, reinforces what was felt throughout the celebration. Health Ambassadors consistently report increased confidence, deeper knowledge of behavioral health, and a greater ability to support others in navigating care. Ambassadors most frequently connect people to BHRS clinics and trusted community-based organizations, settings known for accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and community trust. Each Ambassador represents countless conversations, referrals, and moments of support that strengthen the county’s behavioral health ecosystem.
For ten years, the Health Ambassador Program has centered lived experience, cultural humility, and community voice—empowering participants to develop leadership skills, reduce stigma, advocate for wellness, and foster healing through connection. As systems continue to evolve, Health Ambassadors remain essential partners in behavioral health transformation, offering early support, promoting dignity, and ensuring care is navigated with understanding and compassion.
Congratulations to the newest class of BHRS Health Ambassadors and thank you to all who have been part of this ten-year journey. Your voices matter. Your leadership matters. And your impact continues to grow—rippling hope, trust, and healing throughout our communities.
Beginning on September 22nd and finishing on October 20th, the BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity launched their 4-part Hispanic Heritage Photovoice series. This series celebrates Hispanic Heritage month by sharing how one’s family traditions, stories, and/or values connect an individual to their Hispanic heritage. This Photovoice series was particularly impactful because it was our first Spanish Photovoice since the re-launch of Photovoice in 2025. This series was facilitated by our longstanding community partner, Jose Luis Aguirre, who also facilitates our Spanish Parent Project courses. In addition, this series was very important for our Health Ambassador Program as it served as the final course (5 out of the 11 training offerings) for our prospective Health Ambassadors to become official Health Ambassadors. During graduation, we had family guests join and view the final Photovoices.
Now more than ever, it is vital that we celebrate Hispanic Heritage and culture to honor the importance that cultural values and identity plays in one’s behavioral health. For this reason, on Saturday, November 15th, we displayed these Photovoices at our 12th annual Sana Sana Colita de Rana event hosted by our BHRS ODE Health Equity Initiative, Latino/a/x Collaborative. Translated in English and Spanish, the Photovoices successfully promoted the Latino/a/x Collaborative’s mission to enhance health and wellness within the Latino/a/x community in San Mateo County. These final projects were displayed at the event, amplifying Hispanic Heritage while decreasing the stigma associated with seeking behavioral and recovery services and sharing lived experiences.
Written by Nicoletta Kelleher (she/her), BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity
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!
If you have any questions or challenges accessing the survey link, please contact Sofia Recalde at srecalde@smcgov.org. Thank you for your participation!
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!
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
The County of San Mateo’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity is happy to announce that we have two new interns for this year! Our interns are passionate, driven, and experienced in advancing equity, wellness, and prevention for culturally diverse underserved/unserved populations. Our interns and their respective work areas include:
Michelle Tolentino Serrano (she/her/ella) – Health Ambassador Program
Michelle is currently a Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity (BHRS ODE) Intern for the Health Ambassador Program. With a bachelor’s degree in communications (health emphasis) and recent master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Michelle is excited to contribute to a program that is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma within the community. Drawing from personal/professional experiences and a commitment to service, she looks forward to gaining practical skills in public health education, advocacy, and community outreach. She hopes to continue this commitment to public health and community advocacy with pursuing opportunities to work as a coordinator for a Latinx/Queer center in higher education or in a related government role. Outside of professional endeavors, Michelle enjoys spending time with her cats, partner and family/friends, gardening, reading mystery/thriller, educating herself about political issues and crafting including beading, painting, sewing.
Maddy Marquez (she/them) – Parent Project & Photovoice Program
Maddy Marquez is currently a full-time student in their senior year at San Jose State University where they are studying to get their bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies. Maddy is very passionate about her schooling and is taking this internship opportunity to expand her knowledge and skills to better serve her community. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Maddy is Hispanic and has had the pleasure of experiencing programs like Puente during her time at community college. This program sparked her love for learning more about her heritage and culture. She is especially grateful because she was able to get credits for classes like English through the lens of her community. Maddy has also tailored her current education around learning about marginalized groups by writing a paper on the prevalence of domestic violence within the LGBTQ+ community as well as expanding her knowledge on these subjects with classes like human rights and justice, immigration and justice, race gender inequality and law, prison community, criminal law, and research methods in justice.
During their time at ODE, Maddy will be primarily supporting the Parent Project and Photovoice programs. She will also be assisting with systemic equity, as ODE consists of members who contribute to both aspects of health with community facing projects as well as the systems to better serve the members of this beautiful community in San Mateo County. She is very excited for her time at ODE and has enjoyed getting to meet so many amazing people who put their community first and are always looking to help others. During her time she has had the pleasure of working with an amazing, driven, kind team who has been very welcoming and supportive in getting her adjusted to her new role. Maddy is taking advantage of their time here in ODE to open their horizons for the possibilities of different career options that utilize their degree, allowing them to give a fresh perspective with their knowledge of the criminal justice system and how it can tie into other areas of the systems that involve our lives every day. Outside of school and work, Maddy enjoys spending her days with her lovely fiancé and their family along with their 3 cats. She also really enjoys watching movies because she is a sucker for a good rom com.
About the Internship Program The Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) Internship Program is designed to provide work opportunities and practical learning experience for undergraduate and graduate students to enhance their academic preparation and expose them to public service at the county level. This program is offered every fiscal year from September to June. Interns work 20-hours per week and are paid with a stipend funded by the Mental Health Services Act.
About the Office of Diversity and Equity The Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) advances health equity in behavioral health outcomes of marginalized communities throughout San Mateo County. ODE works to empower communities; influence policy and system changes; develop strategic and meaningful partnerships; and promote workforce development and transformation within the County’s behavioral health service system.
On behalf of the Spirituality Initiative of San Mateo County, we are excited to invite you to our 10th Annual Interfaith National Day of Prayer 2025at Woodside Road United Methodist Church (2000 Woodside Road, Redwood City), on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Previously held in the San Mateo County Courthouse Courtyard, this year, we move indoors to provide an increased sense of safety and security in these sensitive times. The congregation of Woodside Road United Methodist Church welcomes the opportunity to host a powerful multifaith, multicultural event, centered on the theme “Pour Out to Your Higher Power of Hope and be Filled.”
We are ALL touched by behavioral health challenges, in our lives, often in our families, and certainly in our community. This event brings together diverse people of faith who will join countless others across the country in a national act of defiance for the status quo, surrender, unconditional love, and radical acceptance. We would be honored to have your Health Equity Initiative provide a resource table at the event. We believe that your services are essential to our community and directly align with our mission of providing hope and support through spirituality. Having your Health Equity Initiative present will provide attendees with direct access to vital behavioral health and wellness resources, reinforcing our message of prioritizing faith in one’s journey to wellness and recovery. Your presence would be essential to the spirit and success of this event, and we hope that you can join us.
Please extend a warm invitation to family, friends, and peers.
Sadly, this year’s Interfaith National Day of Prayer may be the last major affirmative act of the Spirituality Initiative, as San Mateo County funding through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) is set to change in July 2026, making your presence and contribution especially meaningful.
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