Page 5 - BHRS Director

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

BHRS aims to constantly improve its continuum of services to meet the needs of its diverse clients, support best
practices, improve health equity, and maintain strong local partnerships in each of its service regions throughout

the County through community outreach and collaboration. In recent years there have been significant
opportunities to expand and improve services as a result of the passage of Measure A/K , Mental Health Services
Act funds, State funds for housing development, and the County and State leadership’s commitment to improving

a wide array of behavioral health services. Some of these new programs are well underway and others are still in
development. The new Director will have a unique opportunity to address many challenges including:

Continue a dialogue at all levels of the organization and with partners about the role of cultural humility and

how to deepen the organization’s effectiveness in addressing systemic racism, implementing the BHRS Multi-
Cultural Organizational Development Plan and the Health and County Racial Equity Action Plans. Continue
leadership development strategies designed to develop a diverse pool of leaders for succession-planning

challenges facing the department over the next decade.
Continue developing leadership practices and systems that support all members of the workforce to freely

and safely identify problems, recommend improvements and receive the support they need from across the
organization to carry out and be positively engaged in their work on behalf of people with behavioral health

problems.
Partner with other divisions of Health and the Human Services and Housing departments along with cities and

others in identifying, testing and improving strategies to create pathways out of homelessness for all
unhoused residents including those with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Complete the replacement of Cordilleras, the County’s locked long term care facility for people with mental

illness and co-occurring disorders, with new state of the art programs. Partner with other leaders and
departments in the planning and problem-solving related to the demand for locked institutional services and

insufficient supply of housing and other community supports for those ready to return to the community and
independent living.

Partner with other child/youth serving leaders to support full engagement in the State Children and Youth
Behavioral Health Initiative and other opportunities designed to reimagine how behavioral health support is

provided to all children and youth.
Respond to changes in State and Federal programs such as Medi-Cal Cal-Aim and Medi-Cal eligibility
expansions that will substantially impact all aspects of operations and partner with Health Plan of San Mateo

to undertake integration initiatives that will improve the experience and outcomes for children, youth, adults
and older adults with mental illness, emotional disturbance and substance use disorders. Ensure adequate

capacity to provide mental health and drug and alcohol services to Health Plan of San Mateo members.
Implement behavioral health services and systems for complex, co-occurring frequent users in partnership

with Health Plan of San Mateo and others involved in the Cal-Aim Enhanced Care Management/Whole
Person Care initiative.