Upcoming Events

2026 Mental Health Equity and Advocacy Roundtable (MHEART) 

Please join us on Friday, April 17, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Sobrato Shoreroom in Redwood City (330-350 Twin Dolphin Dr, Redwood City, CA) for the Mental Health Equity and Advocacy Roundtable (MHEART).  

The MHEART conference, a partnership between Stanford Psychiatry Residency Program, San Mateo County Psychiatry Residency Program, and UCSF Public Psychiatry Fellowship, aims to bring together students, trainees, community health providers, researchers, and clinicians from across the Bay Area to build relationships, share knowledge, and strengthen or create collaborations. This year’s iteration will be a two-day conference that takes place at Stanford and in Redwood City. 

We hope to provide a space that allows attendees to: 

• learn from those who are passionate about mental health 
• build knowledge and skills in advocacy and community-driven research 
• explore best practices for building, as well as sustaining, community-academic partnerships 
• learn about practical ways to address structural factors affecting mental health systems 
• build a generative space for future collaboration 

Additional details to follow. Please RSVP at https://forms.gle/guw6Knqp6jthVZ7D7. If you have any questions, please email Brendan Scherer bscherer@smcgov.org. 

Announcements

The draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three Year Integrated Plan for fiscal years 2026-2029 is now available for review on the Mental Health Services Act and BHSA transition websites. 

The draft Plan will be available for review and public comment for a minimum of 30 days through Friday, March 6, 2026. Community members are encouraged to read and submit feedback on the draft Plan, as follows: 

• Online Form 
• Email to mhsa@smcgov.org / optional downloadable form 
• Leave a phone message at (650) 573-2889 

More News

In February, we shared about the Overdose Prevention Coalition Naloxone Stand Box Program, and you may have read about that program in your local paper (San Mateo Daily Journal, SF Gate), heard it on KCBS and KALW Radio, or seen Senior Community Health Planner Dr. Ronni Brown on KTVU live or ABC! We’re grateful the program is receiving attention, as well as for the opportunity to educate the public about overdose prevention and how to use naloxone. Local organizations interested in a free Naloxone Stand Box can apply here.