BHRS Wellness Matters Newsletter

Below highlights some of the new and continuing developments for Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) in 2019. We would like to recognize the many people—clients and their families, partners, staff and community members—whose passion, commitment, hard work and support every day, helped make them happen. 

The most vulnerable California residents need access to various services spanning from behavioral and physical health services to substance use disorder treatment, In-Home Services and developmental help. When the care is hard to coordinate, patients struggle to navigate it on their own and might end up not accessing it at all. 

Effective January 1, 2020 low income undocumented young adults age 19-25 can enroll in full-scope Medi-Cal coverage and receive care regardless of their current immigration status under the expansion of the Health4All Medi-Cal program.  

In early 2019, the idea of bringing group therapy directly to BHRS clients residing in board and care homes in San Mateo County became a reality.  

On November 14, 2019,  San Mateo County Health was acknowledged for their participation and membership in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). GARE is a national network of government agencies working together to reach a place where race no longer determines one’s life path. Within BHRS, this GARE work is aligned with and supports our Multicultural Organizational Development (MCOD) efforts and plan. 

Since launching the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC ODS) pilot in San Mateo County in February 2017, BHRS data has shown a 140% increase in the number of unique Medi-Cal beneficiaries served  annually by the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) provider network  - from 516 people in 2016 to 1,245 people in 2018.  DMC services billed to the State have also increased 206% since implementation.  This increase is due in part, to the increase in the number of&nbs

Clara Boyden has been named to serve as the first Deputy Director for BHRS Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Services.  AOD programs and services are critical to meet the needs of our community and this is a significant step in providing integrated behavioral health service at all levels. 

As of July 1, Horizon Services’ Palm Avenue Detox began providing San Mateo County Medi-Cal beneficiaries with new residential withdrawal management services as a result of their recent certification under the county’s expanded Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (ODS), Continuum of Care.

On June 3, Laurel House, a program of HealthRIGHT 360, opened its doors to welcome adult men who need residential substance use treatment services in San Mateo County.  Laurel House was the first home opened by the Women’s Recovery Association in 1973 and originally its mission was to treat only women. The transition to now serve men as part of its treatability scope is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to HealthRIGHT’s commitment to the entire community and its partners.

North County Youth Clinic Now Open

The new BHRS clinic serving youth in North County is youth is now open and is located at 350 90th Street, 2nd Flr, Daly City, CA  94015, Ph: (650) 301-8650, Fax: (650) 877-5486.  Stay tuned for information on their grand opening. 

Lived Experience Academy Starts October 3

Learn how to share stories from your life to empower yourself and others, reduce stigma, improve the County’s services and develop your leadership skills. 

May is national Mental Health Awareness Month and it marks my fifth month with BHRS. It is an exciting time as BHRS and our partners will be hosting a variety of interesting events aimed at reducing stigma and increasing awareness of mental health and substance abuse needs in our county. I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet each of you at one of these events, or over the summer as I continue my orientation to this wonderful community.

Each year, the Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission recognizes individuals who have found their way to a path of wellness and recovery from a mental health condition and have been active in the consumer movement to better the lives of other consumers in the county.  This year, the commission recognized Daric Desautel, a San Mateo County native with a background in education, advocacy, and social justice.

MHSA Steering Committee 

The MHSA Steering Committee meets twice a year to make recommendations to the planning, funding and services development for MHSA.  During a recent meeting the following, the items were included for comment and approval:

May 18 | Phoenix Garden Project Volunteer Day

Orchard Care Day!  Help us with the installation of tree cages; continued planting, composting, watering; and work on pathways at 222 Paul Scannell Drive, San Mateo.  More info and additional volunteer dates in June, July and August. 

For the past five years Scott Gilman, MSA, CBHE served as Chief Executive Officer of Network180, the Community Mental Health Center for Kent County, Michigan. Like San Mateo County BHRS, Network 180 provides direct mental health and substance use services and maintains a large private provider network. Gilman also served as executive director of Shiawassee Community Mental Health from 2006 to 2013.

The San Mateo County Veteran’s Treatment Court (VTC) celebrated its annual Veteran’s Appreciation Day on November 9. VTC serves a community of veterans and each year, on the Friday closest to Veteran’s Day, a celebration is held to honor their service.

The Court began in May 2012 and works with current or former members of the United States military who are involved in the criminal justice system. The goal is to improve the quality of life for this population by connecting them to needed services through the Veterans Administration or other appropriate treatment entities. The program is voluntary and services include mental health treatment and therapy, substance abuse counseling, health care, housing assistance, employment and job training.

Upcoming Events

November 13 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an opportunity for us to come together and remember those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence. Join us for a candlelight procession, commemoration, music, resources, refreshments and more.

Voices of Recovery San Mateo County (VORSMC) is a nonprofit (501 c3) peer-led organization that was established in 2010, with the purpose of advocating for and supporting the recovery community, people overcoming drug and/or alcohol addictions.  We recognize that hope is a powerful lever for recovery that can be ignited by the leadership, peer support, and lived experience of people who have, themselves, overcome addiction.

Each year, the San Mateo County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission (MHSARC) recognizes outstanding contributions towards recovery with the David Lewis Award. The award is named for the late David Lewis, co-founder of the recovery organization, Free at Last, whose lasting contributions to the recovery community cemented his legacy as a true leader.

In his late twenties and early thirties Miles lived part of his life on the streets, cycling through shelters, hospitals and court rooms. Years of intense drug use, which started at the young age of 11, had taken its toll on his body and mind, leaving him feeling clouded and lost.

Storytelling can be educational, destigmatizing and incredibly empowering. The following are stories of hope, resilience and recovery from those who have experienced mental health and substance use issues. These individuals are sharing their stories in the hopes that others will be encouraged to seek help, and join them on the path to recovery.

Helping Our Peers Emerge (HOPE) is a unique new collaborative designed to provide peer and family support services, using Peer Mentors to assist individuals who are in psychiatric hospital settings to successfully transition into the community, with the intention of reducing recidivism in emergency services.

The San Mateo County BHRS Psychiatry Residency Program is a comprehensive four-year psychiatry residency program, with an emphasis on community psychiatry. Each year, four medical students from around the country match into our program and begin their residency training journey.

Since the legalization of recreational cannabis (also known as “marijuana”) in January, we’ve been working to educate the community on the health effects of cannabis use. Adults 21 or older are now free to use, carry and grow cannabis. However, cannabis use is not without its health risks. It can harm the brain and lungs, and put a person at higher risk for developing mental health and substance use issues. These risks are even greater for young people under the age of 25, whose brains are still developing.

With construction nearly complete, Serenity House, San Mateo County’s new licensed crisis residential respite facility, is scheduled to open early summer. The facility, located at the corner of Hacienda and 37^th and operated by HealthRight360.

I began writing this column early in February, intending to focus on Black History Month and to highlight a few countywide events and activities. Then the shootings occurred in Parkland, and the world’s attention turned to yet another gun violence tragedy.

The Collaborative Care Team (CCT) launched in March 2016 as a Health System collaboration between BHRS, the San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) and Aging and Adult Services (AAS). It sprang from a need to increase client flow throughout the system’s various levels of care, and prevent clients from becoming “stuck” in an inappropriate or higher level of care than needed, including the SMMC inpatient psychiatric unit and other acute care settings.

The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) has provided dedicated funding to transform behavioral health systems and improve the quality of life for individuals living with behavioral health conditions. Workforce Education and Training (WET) strategies received a one-time $3,437,600 funding allocation in Fiscal Years 2006 to 2008, with a ten-year timeframe to expend the allocated funds. With MHSA WET funding ending in 2018, BHRS is preparing to sustain the most effective and impactful elements of these investments.

This past October multiple wildfires wreaked havoc through the North Bay, leaving many of our neighbors to the north displaced and in crisis. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the fires leveled more than 5,000 homes and killed 44 people. The aftermath of these fires left many struggling to cope with the loss of homes and loved ones.

Strained by the incredible need for all kinds of additional resources, including crisis counseling, Sonoma and Napa Counties sent out mutual aid requests for mental health counselors. San Mateo County answered the call and a heart-warming amount of BHRS staff stepped up to volunteer their time to the response effort.

Prevention and Early Intervention – Age 0-25 Task Force

A task force of providers, community based agencies, clients and community members convened over three 2-hour periods with the goal of developing recommendations for prevention and early intervention programming for children, youth, and transitional age youth.

Canyon Oaks Youth Center Receives Provisional STRP License

On December 1, Canyon Oaks Youth Center received a provisional Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) license that will become permanent upon accreditation by the Council on Accreditation (COA), which must be completed within a year. 

“Attaining a STRTP license will ensure Canyon Oaks can continue operating at a level providing the highest quality of care and rigorous quality performance,” said David Young, BHRS Director.

On October 20, Dr. Jei Africa, Director of the BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity, received the Immigrant Recognition Award for California’s 14th Congressional District from Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

During a time of community divisiveness and uncertainty for immigrant families, Congresswoman Speier sought to highlight the contributions of first generation immigrants in San Mateo County, one of the most diverse counties in California.

NAMI San Mateo County is introducing a new peer support program called Peer Pals.

A Peer PAL is someone who is doing well in his or her recovery, and wants to share their friendship and support with a peer who is also experiencing mental illness. 

Peer PALS receive monthly training in recovery and mentorship and are compensated for their time.

News and Event Coverage

Like what you see here in Wellness Matters? Then you’ll love our Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Blog. It’s updated regularly and has everything from the latest BHRS news to thoughtful articles about behavioral health in San Mateo County and beyond.

We are pleased to announced that David A. Young, Ph.D., MPH has joined San Mateo County Health as Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, following Stephen Kaplan’s (current Director) retirement on September 30.  

David brings more than 30 years of diverse experience in the behavioral health nonprofit and private sector arenas, including most recently as Chief Clinical Officer for Sagesurfer, a behavioral health technology company. 

Steve Kaplan, Director of BHRS will retire on September 30. His time with San Mateo County have made a significant impact not only on a local level, but also on a broader level. He managed to accomplished a great deal during his twelve years at the county. 

San Mateo County’s Safe Medicine Disposal Program has partnered with the Medication Education & Disposal (MED) Project to provide 28 safe medicine disposal kiosks – and counting – throughout San Mateo County. This program is critical in preventing accidental exposure of medicine to children and pets, keeping our oceans and drinking water clean and curbing the nationwide opioid epidemic.

While mental illness is a leading cause of disability in the U.S., nearly two-thirds of people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment—and racial and ethnic groups are even less likely to get help, according to the US Office of Minority Health.

55% of San Mateo County residents identify as people of color. Especially in our majority minority community, challenges faced by minorities are challenges for us all.

It was 2009 and Celia, a resident of San Mateo County, was 71 years old when she began experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.

“I was not feeling well at work, I was throwing up, and I was sent home,” she said. Celia continued experiencing these symptoms until she was referred to the Older Adult System of Integrated Services, better known as OASIS.

The Office of Diversity and Equity recently partnered with the Youth Services Center (YSC) to facilitate Photovoice projects for youth detained at YSC. This project was created in order to educate others about stigma surrounding mental health for detained youth. Additionally, this project provided youth an opportunity to share their voice.