The BHRS Employee Equity Award expands​

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Employee Equity Award was started in 2021 by the BHRS Workforce Education and Training team with the Scott Gruendl Equity in Leadership award. This work was created in support of our Multicultural Organizational Development Plan goal of explicitly valuing diverse backgrounds and experiences and seeks to recruit, retrain, and promote diverse staff at ALL levels, including leadership.  This recognition honors workforce members who have shown passion, dedication, and action when it comes to bolstering policy and practices that support equitable outcomes. In 2022, the program expanded to honor and recognize managers/supervisors and direct care/administrative team members who have shown exceptional work in leading BHRS equity work. The 2022 recipients include Yolanda Booker, Care or Administrative Team Award, Regina Moreno, Manager/Supervisor Team Award and Ziomara Ochoa, Executive Team Award.  

First Juneteenth and Cesar Chavez ​

In 2022, we continued to see the impact of collaboration between different San Mateo County Health Equity Initiatives (HEIs), which are overseen by our Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) and our valued partners. The African American Community Initiative (AACI) partnered with Voices of Recovery to host the first San Mateo County Juneteenth Celebration: Freedom and Fatherhood. Different workshop opportunities were available including a fatherhood panel and the opportunity to interact with the keynote speaker of the event, James Simmons who shared the message that “black fathers that came before him, even in their bondage, created a path so that other black fathers could enjoy and thrive on their own fatherhood journeys.” Voices of Recovery also partnered with ODE, Latino/a/x Collaborative, Ayudando Latinos A Soñar, Filipino Mental Health Initiative, and SMC Human Services Agency for the 1st San Mateo County Cesar Chavez Celebration. This cultural celebration theme was “Strength and Resilience of Community” and focused on advancing health equity by improving knowledge and access to community services for the Latinx and Filipinx community members. Over 140 community members participated in this special event elevating resources and support to our communities. 

Health Ambassador Program receives Tony Hoffman Award ​

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity & Equity (ODE) Health Ambassador Program (HAP) was recognized as a Tony Hoffman Award recipient for having made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with mental illness. During the pandemic, Health Ambassadors were instrumental in providing support and outreach to communities. These efforts were led by Charo Martinez, the program’s coordinator, who oversaw the creation of an array of communication campaigns, such as Public Service Announcements to promote vaccinations in Spanish, Tagalog, Tongan, and the indigenous language Zapotec; distribution of mental health support materials; hosting community virtual events (held in Spanish with English), including “La Vacuna, Mi bienestar, Mi Comunidad,” and “Families with OMICRON. Stories and Resources” viewed by thousands of people around San Mateo County and other Bay Area Counties, as well as people connecting from Mexico and El Salvador. Health Ambassadors also  went door-to-door in San Mateo, East Palo Alto, Redwood City, and Half Moon Bay, having one-on-one conversations and distributing masks and information on critical resources for our communities in most need. These efforts continued in Spanish at laundromats, grocery stores, and food distribution centers. Health Ambassadors are passionate and unique clients, family members, and community members committed to elevating and supporting behavioral health resources, goals, and support. Ambassador Catalina, who also receives BHRS services, shared, “Today, I am proud of my accomplishments, including helping my community in Half Moon Bay. During the pandemic, I supported the community by elevating their needs and concerns and motivated people to get informed about the vaccine’s benefits through my livestream testimony. My work has been trilingual: in Spanish, a little English, and Zapotec, my native indigenous language. I feel blessed to be part of the Health Ambassador Program and thankful for the benefits my children and I have received from BHRS. 

Other key events in 2022

The Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) first established a partnership with the San Mateo County Mayors Mental Health Initiative, starting with the May Mental Health Month Planning Committee and Suicide Prevention Committee, Be Sensitive Be Brave (BSBB) for Suicide Prevention and BSBB for Mental Health had its first cultural adaptation (English and Mandarin for the Chinese community) sponsored by BHRS ODE, The first BHRS staff loan repayment was granted, Health Ambassadors responded to a youth suicide at Aragon High School, participated in the first NAMI Walk in San Mateo County, and advocated for 1st Advocacy Academy in Spanish.