About Our Project: Assessing Community Needs
The San Mateo County Behavioral Health Advocates are embarking on an essential project aimed at evaluating the current state of behavioral health services in our community. The transition to CalAIM and anticipated federal funding cuts are already creating significant challenges for these services.
Many community-based programs have closed, and more are likely to follow suit. In response, the County’s clinics have had to absorb a growing share of direct service delivery, while grappling with persistent staff shortages and higher operating costs than nonprofit agencies.
Project Overview
Our assessment will focus on key pressure points, such as waitlists for critical services, including youth behavioral health beds and housing for families experiencing homelessness. Approximately 2,100 unhoused residents live in San Mateo County—far fewer than the roughly 10,000 in neighboring Santa Clara County—many of whom struggle with mental health and/or substance use issues.
Additionally, we will evaluate the utilization of field-based services, particularly the effectiveness of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program. We will explore opportunities for structural change, such as launching new nonprofits, enhancing collaboration across agencies, and reducing reliance on out-of-county service contracts. Importantly, we will also compare San Mateo’s behavioral health system to those in other counties regarding impact, cost, and access.
Focus on Key Challenges
Our efforts are directed toward a diverse audience that includes leadership from San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), nonprofit executives and their boards, members of the Board of Supervisors, and County administrators. We aim to provide comprehensive insights that will guide strategic planning and decision-making among these key stakeholders.