CLIENT STORIES

By the time Amber* turned 16 years old, she had already experienced several traumas in her life.

She had been abandoned by her family as a small child and became a foster youth, and later lived through the horror of being a human trafficked youth. In an effort to numb her pain, she turned to substances and struggled with substance abuse, which later led to a criminal charge.

Amber faced all of these challenges alone until the day she was referred to StarVista by a probation officer. With the support of StarVista’s safe and caring mental health clinicians and case managers, she was able to work through her traumas and discover her resilience and strength. She was also able to find stable housing in one of our residential services for youth.

While receiving StarVista services, Amber actively participated in individual and group counseling, and began to learn safe coping skills. Amber began to feel hopeful and started to believe that she could create the kind of future that she always dreamed of for herself.

Despite her many ups and downs, Amber is now maintaining her sobriety and continues to work on her traumas with the support of her mental health clinician. She has secured employment, and is now pursuing her dream of getting a college degree. StarVista continues to support Amber throughout her journey, always inspiring hope and empowering her to achieve her goals.

StarVista helps children, youth, adults, and families navigate life’s challenges by empowering individuals, inspiring hope, and strengthening communities. StarVista sees the potential in clients to overcome life’s challenges. Our resources and guidance help clients, like Amber, gain the skills and confidence to realize their best futures.

*Name changed to protect confidentiality

I’m Camila* and I’m 32 years old. I came to the United States in 2019 seeking asylum to escape violence and death threats from a cartel in my home country. I began living with my 16-year-old daughter, my 9-year-old son, and my son’s father.

My son’s father was abusive; he abused us emotionally, he limited our food, and he wouldn’t let us communicate with anyone outside the house. He told us that because we were undocumented, no one would help us and no one was going to believe us. He also told us that the government wouldn’t care for us and we would be deported because we don’t belong in the United States. I can’t tell you how devastating it was to be in that situation, and one day, my daughter mentioned what was happening at school, and she called the police.

When the police came to our home, they told us our rights and about resources we could access. That’s when I found out about StarVista. Soon after, I left my son’s father. I slept at a friend’s house for a couple of days and I called the number for StarVista.

First, they helped me to apply for Medi-Cal for my children and myself, then my case manager, Lilia, helped me through the legal process to acquire a visa to live and work in the United States. Lilia was a great support system for me and my family. I eventually found a small room for rent that I could afford. I had a job and things were looking good for us, but then, COVID-19 happened.

I lost my job. I lost the ability to pay for rent and I wasn’t able to provide food for my children. I reached out to StarVista and once again they were there for me. They told me where I could get food and Lilia helped me apply for rent assistance. I was also connected to a bilingual mental health clinician, Shirley, who has helped me so much with my mental stability. The stress of the last year was making it very hard for me to keep moving forward, but Shirley taught me how to cope and work toward my goals.

Shirley and Lilia also advocated for my son to be transferred to a new school. This was a huge help because my son was feeling trapped at his other school. He felt like he wasn’t learning, he felt hopeless, and as a mother, I hurt for him. Now, he’s connected to a mental health clinician too, he has a teacher he can communicate with, and he feels more comfortable in class. My son says that, thanks to Shirley’s help, he thinks of the trauma he’s experienced less and less every day. I can see that my son has benefited hugely from receiving mental health services, and I am so proud of the work he’s done.

Through StarVista’s advocacy and care for my family, I received legal, financial, emotional, and psychological support to get through this time. Thanks to StarVista, I can say that I have a home for my family and I’m continuing to educate myself by attending their parenting classes online. I feel very thankful for all the support I received from Lilia and Shirley to be where I am now. I have hope now for my kids, and for me too. I have shared with my friends that StarVista has made a difference in my family, and I am very thankful to be part of their program.

*Name changed to protect confidentiality

When Lizette* first came to the Transitional Housing Placement Plus program, she was an expectant parent who was mistreated by her foster family and concerned that her baby would grow up in a toxic environment.

She was relieved to find out that StarVista could provide rental assistance and support services to help her in her transition to independent living. Working with her StarVista case manager, she engaged in goal-directed activities to obtain housing, enroll and stay in college, and pursue employment.

Through consistency, self-advocacy and supportive case management, Lizette was able to secure stable housing in a beautiful home in Brisbane where she rents two rooms, including one as a nursery for her baby boy. The landlords are a couple who learned about our program and were inspired to offer this former foster youth a safe and supportive living environment. The landlords have become another a source of encouragement for Lizette’s family, with regular check-ins and gifts for the baby.

Lizette is taking online courses at Skyline College with the guidance of a Retention Specialist in the Guardian Scholars Program, a program that helps meet the academic, social, emotional, and financial needs of college-bound students who are transitioning out of the foster care system. She is currently meeting all THP Plus program requirements, including 30 hours a week of school, part-time work, parenting and play classes with her baby, as well as seeking out mental health support to assist in this life transition.
By participating in THP Plus, Lizette received the assistance she needed to achieve housing stability and take the first steps towards her independence.

*Names and identifying features have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

Navigating adolescence can be a scary and challenging journey. As a sophomore in high school, Kevin* seemed fine on the outside, but emotionally, he was struggling. He had just started the school year when he found himself going through a rough breakup. Kevin’s mother could see the change in her son and worried about him constantly. He wasn’t excited about normal school activities or motivated in his school work.

As the weeks passed, one of Kevin’s teachers noticed an alarming piece of artwork on his desk: Kevin had sketched a graphic drawing pertaining to suicide. Recognizing immediately that the high schooler needed help, the teacher reached out to Kevin’s mom and referred Kevin to a StarVista counselor on campus at his high school.

Kevin started meeting regularly with the StarVista school-based clinician during the school day. Over time, he developed trust in the counselor and disclosed his feelings of depression. Kevin said that drawing was one of his coping mechanisms. By sketching, he could express what he usually couldn’t put into words, which helped him feel calm. Supported by the StarVista counselor, Kevin was able to talk about his suicidal thoughts and come up with a plan of action for how to positively address his depression. StarVista helped Kevin find a therapist outside of school with whom he felt comfortable, and collaborated with Kevin’s parents and the new therapist to create an action plan that would ensure the sophomore’s present and future safety.

Kevin continued to drop in to talk with the StarVista clinician when he needed support. He said the clinician made him feel cared for, taught him new tools and techniques to cope with his feelings, and helped him process stressors that he had not been able to before. The StarVista counselor also gave Kevin a sketchbook so that he could have a safe place to express his feelings, which Kevin found to be a great outlet for him.

StarVista’s School-Based Counseling program provides mental health services for students in over 40 elementary, middle, and high schools throughout San Mateo County.

Over time, Kevin’s drop-ins at the counselor office became less frequent. On the last day of school, Kevin came in after his last exam to thank the StarVista counselor for all of the help he had provided throughout the difficult year. He reported not feeling depressed anymore and had high hopes for his next year of school to be a positive one.

StarVista’s School-Based Counseling program provides mental health services for students in over 40 elementary, middle, and high schools throughout San Mateo County. Services include assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, family therapy, and consultation with parents, teachers, and other school staff. Last year, StarVista’s School-Based Counseling program served more than 1,600 students.
*Name changed to protect confidentiality

It’s not always easy to see when you need help. That’s how 22-year-old Trish* felt when she enrolled in StarVista’s First Chance Outpatient Services earlier this year, a 12-week substance abuse treatment program for adults suffering from alcohol or drug use issues.

A young adult, Trish found herself at First Chance after a local judge mandated the program as part of her treatment for a misdemeanor. Trish admits she didn’t think she had a problem with drugs or alcohol when she came to First Chance. "I never would have come to a program like this on my own," Trish told StarVista staff. But as time went on, the young woman began to see her situation in a different light. She attended individual and group counseling sessions and began to identify with the stories and struggles of her fellow First Chance peers. "She could see herself in their stories," a First Chance counselor explained. "She knew what her peers were feeling and the daily struggles they faced."

Over time, Trish began to acknowledge how alcohol had played a role in some of her life challenges. She began attending AA meetings and acquired an AA sponsor. By the end of her First Chance experience, Trish had made incredible progress: she saw her own issues with alcohol clearly and learned to take steps to address them. With the encouragement of StarVista staff, she also enrolled in school to improve her economic status and to expand her life experience. A few months after entering the First Chance Outpatient Services, Trish graduated from the wellness program. She expressed her enormous gratitude for her First Chance counselor, the peers in her group, and the program as a whole.

First Chance is one of many programs operated by StarVista. It works closely with local law enforcement to ensure individuals in need are connected to programs that will help them grow. As Ed Barberini, Chief of the San Bruno Police Department, explains, “StarVista is not only an incredible resource for local law enforcement agencies in our collective effort to provide meaningful options for those facing many types of significant challenges, it also serves in creating stronger, more resilient communities.  We would be much less effective as a police department without StarVista as a partner.” Last year, First Chance Outpatient Services provided support to 189 individuals within San Mateo County.

In addition to Outpatient Services, First Chance staff operate the First Chance Sobering Station, a 24-hour safe haven that serves as an alternative to jail for persons arrested for driving under the influence, public intoxication, and being under the influence of drugs. “I have worked in law enforcement for 36 years and feel it is our absolute responsibility to collaborate with StarVista’s First Chance program to provide alternatives to incarceration,” explains Eric Wollman, Chief of the Burlingame Police Department and member of StarVista’s Board of Directors. “Having the ability to immediately impact a person’s future by affording any individual the opportunity to receive immediate help has always been of the utmost importance to me. First Chance provides an important resource to the law enforcement community.”

“The First Chance [Sobering Station] program keeps people out of jail and that is a good thing,” echoes San Mateo County Board of Supervisor David J. Canepa. “The StarVista-run program provides counseling for individuals with drug and alcohol issues and is an incredible partnership with law enforcement. I’ve personally visited the site and can tell that it makes a difference in the lives of the individuals it serves.” The program also provides support and refuge for individuals in immediate crisis, those involved in a domestic violence situation, victims of human trafficking, and people recently released from the Emergency Room or Psychiatric Emergency Services.  Last year, the Sobering Station served 1,955 individuals.

*Names and identifying features have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

High school is no easy feat. Add in the demands of being a single parent, and everyday stressors of pop quizzes, study sessions, homework, and extracurriculars can become unbearable.

Elizabeth, a new mother at 16-years-old, experienced this challenge as she returned to school to complete her high school education while caring for her 4-month-old, Gabriel. Elizabeth was elated to be back in school and excited that her son could attend on-campus childcare to make her dual roles of mother and student easier to manage. After a few months being back to class, however, her excitement waned, and anxiety and exhaustion took over. Elizabeth felt overwhelmed and had trouble focusing in class. Financial stressors and health concerns were taking their toll, and childcare staff noticed Gabriel’s behavior and disposition were suffering as well. As lack of attendance spiraled into Elizabeth being put on probation at school, she was quickly slipping and needed help fast.

StarVista stepped in through its Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) program, which provides mental health consultation, early intervention services, direct clinical services, and support for parents and caregivers on-site at subsidized childcare centers, including Elizabeth’s school.

After meeting with Elizabeth and school staff to form a plan, StarVista’s Early Childhood Consultant was able to connect Elizabeth with much-needed support and a tailored array of services to help her address her life’s competing needs. In addition to supporting Elizabeth with tools to help with stress management, building financial stability, and expanding her community support web, StarVista also coordinated with a case worker to help her secure food stamps, housing, and counseling services. Additionally, the consultant connected Elizabeth with services to track Gabriel’s development and health needs through regular home visits, resulting in an Early Start referral.

Today, Elizabeth has a renewed sense of confidence and determination. In addition to exercising daily, exploring with Gabriel, and regularly visiting family and friends, she is on track to graduate in June. With StarVista’s support, Elizabeth and Gabriel were given the tools, resources, and detailed level of care they needed to set them up for growth and success in school and beyond.

* Names and identifying features have been changed to protect client confidentiality

Jo*, a current resident of StarVista’s Daybreak home, was in elementary school when she first realized her family life was not normal. While reliable, supportive parents picked up her classmates each day from school, took them to and from afterschool sports activities, and often helped with homework, Jo’s life looked very different. Verbal and emotional abuse were common in her home, and a reliable parental figure was foreign to her. Both of Jo’s parents suffered from alcoholism and often became verbally abusive after bouts of drinking.

When Jo talked about her home life with leaders at school, Child Protective Services got involved, but the situation improved little. Her parents covered up facts and lied to their assigned social worker, ultimately blaming Jo for being a “bad child” and having CPS “meddle” in their lives.

As time went on, Jo’s middle school years were fraught with questions of her own gender identity and her father’s subsequent disapproval of who she was becoming. Unable to continue living in the stressful environment, Jo left home when she turned 18, couch surfing at friends’ homes and falling in and out of unhealthy relationships until someone – recognizing both her pain and her potential – told Jo about Daybreak.

Daybreak is the only home for homeless youth in San Mateo County, at the age of 20, Jo enrolled in the program. Desiring a different path, she fully immersed herself in its offerings. She attended its therapy services and signed-up for Medi-Cal insurance to be able to receive additional physical and mental health treatment. Through Daybreak, Jo got a job and after years of retreating inward, she at last began regaining confidence in herself, growing socially with her Daybreak peers, and saving money for her future.

Jo’s journey is far from over, but with the opportunity to grow in a place of healthy support and guidance, she is optimistic about what she will accomplish.

*Name changed to protect confidentiality

Alana* received a flyer with StarVista’s 24/7 Crisis Hotline number on it after she attended a school presentation on suicide prevention and intervention by StarVista’s Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center. At first, Alana wasn’t sure if she would need the flyer, but she decided to take it anyway. Little did Alana know that the flyer she almost left behind would play a vital role during a challenging moment in her life.

A few months later, Alana found out that her aunt had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was struggling to accept the diagnosis. In a phone call, Alana’s aunt shared openly about her struggles to understand life after the diagnosis and expressed feeling hopeless and without motivation to keep living. Alana was in shock.

As she was trying to process her aunt’s situation, Alana recalled the Crisis Center presentation and reflected upon the early signs and symptoms of suicide that she had learned about. In addition to hearing her aunt talk about feeling hopeless, she also noted that her aunt discussed feeling her diagnosis would be a burden to the rest of the family and was overwhelmed by having to ask others for support. Alana remembered being told by a StarVista presenter about the importance of asking directly about suicide. After Alana asked, her aunt began to cry as she replied “yes” and asked her niece for help.

Grabbing the Crisis Center flyer she kept in her bag, Alana immediately called StarVista’s Crisis Hotline for support. A crisis line counselor received Alana’s call and provided emotional support to her by listening without judgment and exploring coping strategies. The crisis line counselor also encouraged Alana to share the crisis line number directly with her aunt, so that she may call when feeling overwhelmed by her feelings of hopelessness. Alana and the crisis counselor also spoke about her desire to help her aunt practice resilience and work through her diagnosis.

Later in the conversation, a crisis counselor provided resources and referrals to Alana. She received information on caretaker support groups and chronic illness support groups hosted by one of StarVista’s community partners. Additionally, the crisis line counselor discussed referrals for individual counseling and Alana requested a referral to another StarVista program, the StarVista Counseling Center, which could provide individual therapy to help her cope with her fears and worries associated with this family change. At the end of the call, Alana shared that she was very grateful for the support she received from the crisis line, and she felt comforted knowing she could call back anytime for additional support.

*Name changed to protect client confidentiality