Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Warren Slocum, District 4
Subject: Reappointments to the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for reappointments to the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission, each for a term ending September 23, 2023:
A) Jean Perry Verley representing Family member, for a first full term; and
B) Yoko Ng, representing Public member, for a second term; and
C) Sheila Brar, representing Public member, for a second term; and
D) Donald Mattei, representing Family member, for a second term; and
E) Leticia Bido, representing Public member, for a second term.
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BACKGROUND:
The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission reviews and evaluates the County’s mental health and substance abuse disorders needs, services, facilities and special problems. The Commission advises the Board of Supervisors and the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Director on any aspect of the local mental health program, reviews and approves procedures used to ensure citizen and professional involvement at all stages of the planning process, and submits an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the needs and performance of the County's mental health system.
The Commission consists of 22 members, 19 of whom are appointed by the Board of Supervisors representing family members, consumers/clients, professionals and interested residents. With respect to the remaining three members, one shall be a member of the Board of Supervisors, and two shall be members of the County’s Youth Commission. By State law, at least 50% of the 19 members appointed by the Board must be consumers or family members of consumers of mental health services.
DISCUSSION:
Jean Perry Verley has served on the commission since March 2020 for an initial partial term ending September 30, 2020. Approval of this reappointment would be for a first full term. A native of Sacramento, Jean is a retired nurse practitioner and mother of a daughter who lives with mental health challenges. She has a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Utah and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California San Francisco.
Yoko Ng has served on the Commission since 2017 and is being recommended for a second term. Yoko was born in Hong Kong and she has been a US citizen living in San Francisco with family since 2001. She actively engages at the local community level as her profession of a national certified medical & legal interpreter helping marginalized populations of immigrant backgrounds who are struggling with language & systematic barriers in healthcare settings and in legal court settings throughout the Bay Area. Yoko has been teaching the Cantonese cohort as the lead language coach & the advisory committee board member of the Healthcare Interpreting Program at City College of San Francisco since 2011. Sher has been a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission board liaison at the Suicide Prevention Committee of San Mateo County, reporting back to the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission meetings since 2018. Yoko is honored to serve as the chair of the Adult Recovery Committee of San Mateo County since 2019 and most honorably to continue serving the Mental Health & Substance Recovery Commission as a responsible commissioner attending monthly board meetings.
Sheila Brar has served on the Commission since 2017 and is being recommended to serve for a second term. Sheila Nathan Brar is a public health researcher and advocate with extensive community experience in local schools and non-profit organizations. She holds a B.S. degree from University of California, Irvine and Masters in Health Policy and History and Social Medicine from Columbia University and University of San Francisco, respectively.
Donald Mattei has served on the Commission since 2017 and is being recommended to serve for a second term. He is currently the Emergency Manager at Santa Clara University and has been there since 2016. Before that, Donald was a Supervisor with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security, and Office of Emergency Services.
Donald was with the City of Belmont for 35 years (retired) in both the Park and Recreation Department and spent the last 33 years in the police department. He was the Police Chief for the last nine years of my career and served in all department capacities. Donald was honored to be President of the San Mateo County Police Chief's Association and Executive Board member for four years, and was involved in Countywide SWAT issues, EOC development, and Emergency Management for most of my career.
Donald has been involved in several mental health programs in San Mateo County and was active in forming the foundation for several programs such as Field Crises Committee, SMART Program, CIT, and Inebriate Recovery Protocol. He has extensive training as a Sociologist, and is very knowledgeable in the interface of law enforcement and the mental health system.
Donald has a B.S. in Behavioral Science, a Master's in Public Administration Degrees, graduated from the FBI National Academy, US Army War College NSS, and taught Sociology at NDNU for five years.
Leticia Bido has served on the commission since 2017 and is being recommended for reappointment for a second term. Leticia Bidó is Vice President of Client Success & Strategic Operations for LINEA System since 2012 where she oversees client delivery, partnership development, and many operational aspects of the clinical trial technology startup. Prior to LINEA, Leticia worked at Hearing Health Foundation, the nation's largest nonprofit funder of hearing loss research.
She enjoys long-distance running, is fluent in Spanish, an active member of the Parent Teacher Organization at a local school, Treasurer, and an active volunteer in local faith-based children's programs. An enthusiastic servant leader, diversity and inclusion champion, mental health advocate, and passionate about holistic wellness, building community and making a positive social impact.
Leticia holds a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University and pursued graduate studies in Social Work, Philanthropy, and Christian Mental Health Counseling.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.