We all experience life’s challenges, but without the resources to cope, struggles can become catastrophic. That’s where StarVista can help. For more than 55 years, we’ve been empowering people of every age and life stage in San Mateo County with innovative, proven programs that enable prevention, change, and perseverance. We help tens of thousands of people in our community each year through nearly 25 counseling, crisis prevention, youth housing, and outreach programs. We believe that everyone has the power to change their life.
StarVista’s Early Childhood and School-based Services provide San Mateo County children, youth, families and farmworkers with comprehensive mental health services that build resilience, strengthen mental health, and cultivate community wellness.
PROGRAMS
StarVista's CAPS Intervention services are serving victims ages 0-17 and their families in San Mateo County that have been the victim of child abuse and/or neglect. Services are for victims and/or their caregivers. Family members may also qualify to help with the treatment of the child.
[email protected]
Intake Line: (650) 771-0788
StarVista’s Early Childhood Community Team (ECCT) serves Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, La Honda, Daly City, South San Francisco, and Redwood City (North Fair Oaks area) communities.
Community outreach, mental health consultation, and parent-child counseling services for pregnant mothers and families with young children, helping parents and care providers identify, understand, and effectively respond to the socialemotional needs of their children and students.
[email protected]
(650) 465-0305
Aurora Gallardo
Program manager
[email protected]
650-207-6522
Self-Referral
Strengthens the social-emotional development and school readiness of our community’s high-risk children from birth to age five, and supports low-income families and caregivers by providing mental health consultation, early intervention services, direct clinical services, and support for parents and caregivers on-site at subsidized childcare centers.
[email protected]
(650) 465-0305
Tara Metcalf-Gonzales, LMFT
Program Manager
650-464-9553
Self-Referral
Nancy Quiggle, Ph.D.
Director of Early Childhood and School-Based services
(650) 591-9623
Healthy Homes strives to prevent child abuse and neglect, enhance the parent-child relationship, and reduce the impact of risk factors such as domestic violence, trauma, poverty, immigration, food insecurity, substance abuse, mental illness, and language barriers, among others. This program serves families with children ages 0-5.
The following program highlights are free of charge to families, available in English or Spanish and can be home-based when appropriate: Home based mental health services for children and their caregivers, parent support groups, and parent-child activity groups.
[email protected]
(650) 465-0305
Aurora Gallardo
Program manager
[email protected]
650-207-6522
Self-Referral
Offers a healing camp experience for children who live in families that have members struggling with mental health and/or substance use challenges, and are receiving services through one or more of StarVista’s many programs.
Self-Referral
Mental health services for students in 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. The goal of this program is to help students improve aspects of their lives that may enhance their school performance and increase learning engagement.
Offers professional counseling, education, and prevention services to students and families in five schools throughout northern San Mateo County.
Self-Referral
StarVista’s Together for Families (TFF) is available to any family with a child 0-17 living in San Mateo County. TFF offers community and school-based services that offer therapy, case management, parent education and support to children and their parents/caregivers.
[email protected]
Intake Line: (650) 771-0788
Andrea Avina
Program Manager
Self-Referral
StarVista’s Youth and Community Empowerment Services ensure that San Mateo County youth feel supported as they encounter life’s challenges like unstable housing, mental health issues, navigating the foster care system, or accessing LGBTQ-centered care, empowering them to build the lives they envision.
PROGRAMS
A transitional housing program that provides independent living skills training and mental health support for homeless teens aged 16-21.
Adrian Esqueda
Program Manager
[email protected]
(650) 364-4633
Case Management
Community Outreach
Counseling
Crisis Services
Educational Services
Residential
Self-Referral
Support Groups
Home visiting and case management service for families that have been reported to Child Protective Services and evaluated as low-risk. Case managers help link families to resource centers, in-home therapy, and other services in schools and the community.
Leslie Garcia
Program Manager
[email protected]
Resource Line: (650) 498-2097
Email: [email protected]
Case Management
Community Outreach
Educational Services
One-on-one, strength-based case management, coaching, and enrichment services promote academic achievement for San Mateo County foster youth from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.
Samantha Sieth, MSW, PPSC
Program Manager
[email protected]
(650) 591-9623
Case Management
Community Outreach
Educational Services
School-Based
HAP-Y seeks to train youth aged 16-24 to become health ambassadors. Training covers common challenges in mental wellness, learning the signs and risks of suicide, suicide prevention, and how to access mental health services.
Kassandra Chavez
Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Community Outreach
Educational Services
Self-Referral
Over a decade in the making, the Pride Center represents the realization of the collective efforts of many who believe in equity, justice, and inclusivity. As the first ever LGBTQ+ center in San Mateo County (est. 2017), the Pride Center combines direct mental health services with community building and educational programming.
The San Mateo County Pride Center provides a broad range of services to LGBTQ+ individuals and families of all ages with specialized programming for youth and older adults. We also offer educational opportunities to service providers and the community to reduce stigma and discrimination, improve access to care, and create a more equitable environment for LGBTQ+ individuals overall.
Location: 1021 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 591-0133 or email [email protected]
Francisco Sapp
Program Director
[email protected]
Housing or rental assistance and comprehensive supportive case management services for qualified former foster care and probation youth aged 18-24. Youth participating in this program are required to work and/or go to school while learning independent living skills.
Alyssa Canfield
Program Manager
[email protected]
(650) 667-0483
Case Management
Community Outreach
Counseling
Crisis Services
Educational Services
Residential
Self-Referral
Support Groups
Engages students in opportunities to develop leadership, development, and advocacy skills.
Brenda Nunez
Program Manager
[email protected]
(650) 591-9623
Community Outreach
Counseling
School-Based
Self-Referral
Support Groups
StarVista’s Wellness and Recovery Services provide a range of substance use and mental health programs for youth and adults. Treatment is individualized and client centered as clients are empowered to take responsibility for their choices, get connected with tools to tackle their challenges, build support networks, and create positive life changes.
PROGRAMS
Affordable counseling services for children, teens, adults, and families, covering relationship issues, behavioral concerns, depression/anxiety, life transitions, peer conflicts, homework stress, self-esteem, and more. Clients learn new coping strategies, change negative patterns, and improve parenting skills.
(650) 355-8787
*We are not taking any new referrals
Counseling
Crisis Services
Self-Referral
This 24-hour program serves as an alternative to jail for persons arrested for driving under the influence or public intoxication. Services include housing during the period of inebriation, substance abuse assessment, referral services, and extended case management.
(650) 689-5597
Giselle Lateur
Program Manager
[email protected]
Community Outreach
Counseling
Crisis Services
Recovery
Residential
Self-Referral
Support Groups
A drug and alcohol recovery program with Adolescent Counseling Program that empowers youth to take responsibility and facilitate positive, lasting change for themselves and their families. Through case management and individual, group, and family counseling, participants learn about anger management, relationships, mental health, communicating with parents, and more.
Jessica Sanchez-Martinez, LMFT
Program Manager
[email protected]
(650) 366-8436
Community Outreach
Counseling
Educational Services
Recovery
School-Based
Support Groups
Mindfulness is an incredible approach to helping individuals improve their overall wellness through awareness and acceptance with non-judgment. During this time of shelter-in-place and systemic racial inequality, our communities are hurting. With all of the additional challenges, frustrations, and feelings of isolation brought on by this, we are making it a priority to focus our efforts on sharing techniques and practices that can help bring peace and hope to our community. And this starts with working on ourselves as individuals.
The groups are FREE of charge, open to ages 15-21 (Groups are split based on the age of the participants.), and are held in a virtual zoom meeting room for the current time being (and subject to change to in-person as needed/allowed).
If you are interested and would like to get connected with a group that works best for your schedule, sign up below:
Jessica Sanchez-Martinez, LMFT
Program Manager
mindfulness[email protected]
(650) 366-8436
Counseling
Prevention Services
Recovery
Support Groups
StarVista’s Crisis Services deliver extensive mental health support to children, youth, adults, and families facing mental health crises or requiring assistance through crisis intervention, suicide prevention, compassionate understanding, and connection to vital resources.
PROGRAMS
Now serving all ages in East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Mateo, and South San Francisco.
StarVista’s Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT), in partnership with San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and 8 police departments: East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Mateo, and South San Francisco, is designed to improve law enforcement response to community members experiencing mental health crises.
Experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis? Call 911
Crisis Services
The Crisis Center operates a 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline, handling calls, texts, and chats from both local and national sources. Crisis counselors provide immediate support, conduct suicide risk assessments, develop safety plans, and offer compassionate connections. Additionally, the Crisis Center facilitates mental health and suicide prevention presentations, as well as post-crisis interventions, for local school districts, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and community-based organizations. These services aim to raise mental health awareness and foster resilience and support throughout the county.
Martha Cervantes
Director of Crisis Services
[email protected]
HOTLINE: (650) 579-0350
www.sanmateocrisis.org
Community Outreach
Counseling
Crisis Services
Educational Services
Self-Referral
To download program flyers, click here.
For an alphabetical list of all StarVista programs please click here, or for a downloadable version click here.
For an alphabetical list of all StarVista programs in Spanish please click here.