2017 BHB Community Heroes Awards

Congratulations to our 2017 community heroes! These awards from the Behavioral Health Board recognize community members who have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with behavioral health challenges.

“These awards recognize individuals for their hard work and the programs devoted to providing behavioral health services with empathy for those in need throughout Santa Clara County,” said Robert Nuñez, Chair of the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board.

Three new categories were added to this year’s nominations for a total of nine categories. The awards ceremony was attended by 2017 Behavioral Health Board members: Dr. Gary Miles, Chair: Charles Pontious, 1st Vice Chair, Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Paul Murphy, Alternate, Larry Blitz, Mary E. Crocker Cook, Robert Gill, Marsali Hancock , Thomas Jurgensen , Wesley Mukoyama , Victor Ojakian, Evelyn Vigil, and Joel Wolfberg. Toni Tullys, MPA, Director, Llolanda Ulloa, BHB Support Liaison, and Debra Boyd, BHB Support, with the Behavioral Health Services Department were also present.

SCC Adult Probation Wellness Unit, Agency Community Hero

The County of Santa Clara Adult Probation Department Wellness Unit provides supervision and support for adults with serious mental illnesses who are on probation in our county. Their work includes assisting clients to be in compliance with court orders; connecting clients to appropriate services; relaying information to the court. In addition to intensive supervision, Deputy Probation Officers facilitate weekly peer support and cognitive therapy groups.

In 2016, over 2,500 attendees participated in meetings, groups, and sessions, including gender-responsive meetings, Moral Recognition Therapy (an evidence-based model shown to reduce recidivism by 30% - 50%) and Veteran’s groups.

All Officers in the Wellness Unit strive to assist the whole person in developing skills to maintain their mental health and refrain from further involvement in the criminal justice system. By building on clients’ strengths and including family members and friends in recovery plans, individuals develop long-lasting changes that improve their quality of life long after their probation is completed. Participants often report probation and treatment court change their lives for the better!

Eating Disorders Resource Center, Agency Community Hero

Founded in 2006, Eating Disorders Resource Center (EDRC) is a non-profit organization based at Good Samaritan Hospital Mission Oaks Campus in Los Gatos. EDRC’s mission is to increase awareness and understanding of eating disorders for the general public and for health professionals; to promote early diagnosis, effective treatment, and recovery; and to advocate for mental health parity legislation and effective insurance coverage. Knowledgeable staff and caring volunteers connect individuals struggling with eating disorders and their loved ones with local and national resources. Services include a speaker’s bureau, weekly support groups, and insurance advocacy.

New Directions, Peninsula Health Care Foundation, Agency Community Hero

New Directions is an innovative hospital and community-based case management program for individuals with complex medical and psychosocial needs. Originally a program of the Healthcare Foundation of Northern and Central California, New Directions was established in 2002 as a response to the large numbers of individuals turning to hospital Emergency Departments as their primary resource for healthcare, and the time, money and inefficient care provided in that setting. In 2004 New Directions was chosen to participate in the statewide Frequent Users of Health Services Initiative which found an intensive case management intervention to be effective in reducing the frequency of use of Emergency Departments, hospital admissions, length of stay, and overall improvement of the quality of life of the patients served. After the completion of the Frequent Users Initiative, several Santa Clara County hospitals opted to continue to fund the New Directions program.

In 2013, New Directions began a partnership with Peninsula Healthcare Connection, a nonprofit healthcare clinic founded in 2006 to provide free medical and psychiatric services to those most in need in the homeless community. New Directions continues to grow. In addition to partnering with several local hospitals, they are now working with a Medi-Cal managed care plan, Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing, and the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program to provide a “do what- ever it takes” model of intensive case management services to the most vulnerable individuals in our community.

Recovery Café San José, Agency Community Hero

Recovery Café San José (RCSJ) is a healing community for those traumatized by homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. Located in the heart of downtown San José, RCSJ is a place where anyone seeking recovery can come for meals, support groups, classes, community resources, and social activities in a sober and supportive environment. Since opening in April 2014 RCSJ has supported hundreds of individuals in their recovery, helping them achieve such goals as family reunification, and achieving the stability to gain - and maintain - housing and employment.

Phil Campey, Consumer Community Hero

For the past 1-1/2 years, Phil Campey has worked as a mentor through NAMI SCC’s Mentors on Discharge program, which pairs trained peer mentors with persons coming out of psychiatric hospitalizations. From the very beginning, Phil has been a leader among the mentors. Phil’s strong intellectual skills, his lived experience, his compassion, and his spot-on instincts make for a very wise and gracious man. Part of Phil’s remarkable gift is that he can interact with anyone. He has mentored over 20 people, including those with professional careers; people who have been chronically homeless; and young people who are in the very beginning stages of making sense of their illnesses. Phil doesn’t fix, save, or set anyone straight. What he does is believe fervently in the potential inherent in each person—no matter what the diagnosis, substance use history, jail time, or losses a person is facing. He believes until those he mentors believe it too.

Nicolas Jaramillo, Consumer Community Hero

Mr. Jaramillo is the Career Hub Coordinator at Goodwill of Silicon Valley. He has worked for the Vida Nueva Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program, owned by the American G. I. Forum, as their Manager and Counselor from 2004 to 20014. Nicolas was a youth mentor at San Luis Obispo Grizzly Academy in 2010. He is also a Member of the Community Homeless Alliance Ministry serving as an ordained minister feeding the Homeless at St. James Park and in the homeless camps throughout the San José. He is continuing his education at San José City College to obtain his AA Degree in the recovery field and plans to transfer to San José State to achieve his Bachelor’s Degree and become a clinical supervisor in the community.

Coralia Valdez, Educator Community Hero

Ms. Valdez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Supervisor. Coralia has been working at Family and Children Services, Division of Caminar since 1996 in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department. When she first started at the agency, her focus was on the deaf and hard of hearing population. Coralia believes she is fortunate that she is fluent in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. This tri-cultural and tri-lingual capacity has allowed her to support a broad range of clients on their journey to wellness. Coralia now serves the Adult/Older Adult population as well and works with individuals who present with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Additionally, as a clinical supervisor, she supports staff as they grow and develop in the field. Coralia’s passion will always be with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, and she is appreciative of being able to expand professionally in other areas.

Dr. Shelly Viramontez, Educator Community Hero

Dr. Viramontez came up through the ranks as a classroom teacher, student and teacher support provider, assistant principal, principal, Director of Special Education and Student Services, and currently is the Associate Superintendent at Campbell Union School District. She currently serves on two community-based boards and has worked with community agencies to partner with her school district in an effort to provide comprehensive supports and services to meet the vast needs of students and families that are beyond a school district’s expertise and/or ability to provide. Her belief in supporting the whole child has been a stalwart of her leadership focus throughout her career.

Councilmember Raul Peralez, Elected Official Community Hero

Mr. Peralez serves as the elected City Council representative for District 3 in San José, California. Prior to taking office, he served for 8 years as a San José police officer, and 10 years a substitute high school and alternative education teacher, involving work with students in the juvenile justice system. He was recognized by YMCA Project Cornerstone as the 2013 Adult Role Model of the Year and as an Emerging Leader by Silicon Valley Latino magazine. As a city councilmember, his focus is on economic vitality, public transportation, addressing issues of housing, homelessness, and public safety. He obtained a degree in Mathematics from San José State University and as a lifelong resident of San José, Councilmember Peralez continues to give back to his community through his work and volunteering in his free time.

Supervisor Ken Yeager, Elected Official Community Hero

Supervisor Yeager was first elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in June of 2006. He represents the 4th District, which includes the cities of Campbell and Santa Clara, as well as west San José. Supervisor Yeager is the chair of Board of Supervisors' Health and Hospital Committee and the California State Association of Counties' Health and Human Services Committee. A longtime pioneer of LGBTQ rights, Supervisor Yeager has worked to expand targeted physical, mental, and behavioral health services, especially for vulnerable populations such as at-risk youth and people who are homeless. His strong advocacy for ending violence against women also led him to co-create the Blue Ribbon Task Force on lntimate Partner Violence. He also championed the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Jail Reform, ensuring that inmates are not held in our jails because of a lack of access to behavioral health services in the community.

Reverend Cindy McCalmont, Faith-Based Community Hero

Reverend McCalmont loves to hike, bike and camp in the many extraordinarily beautiful places in northern California. She and her husband Scott are also avid gardeners who enjoy unusual plants like nettles, blueberry tomatoes, and Chilean guavas. Being outdoors plays a significant role in Cindy’s ongoing recovery from anorexia, as does her work at NAMI. Passionate about confronting mental illness stigma and stereotypes, Cindy is currently completing a memoir about her experience with mental illness. She holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Divinity from Duke University.

John Forward, Family Member Community Hero

Mr. Forward is a semi-retired visual & multimedia designer in consumer education and training. His passion has been interactive prototyping, educational software, and music composition. John volunteers at NAMI Santa Clara County, contributes to the website NAMIWalks Silicon Valley, and provides support at the NAMI offices and the Tuesday General Meeting and presentations held at Good Samaritan Hospital Auditorium.

Terry Gallo, Family Member Community Hero

Ms. Gallo is a graduate of San José State University in Radio/TV. She owned her own production house in San José Video Estate Productions, for 9 years until she changed careers and became a Field Manager for QSP Fundraising Reader's Digest. On July 8, 2011, Terry's middle daughter became psychotic overnight and was eventually misdiagnosed as bipolar. This is when Terry started her campaign to open a children's medical psychiatric hospital with the help of Cindy Chavez and Joe Simitian, and to spread the word about the new disease her daughter had, PANS/Autoimmune Encephalitis. In 2013 Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford started a clinic and asked Terry to join their staff as a parent mentor. Terry mentored families, used her media skills to spread their stories, and helped raise funds for the clinic. Terry became a volunteer parent mentor for the Pandas Network, Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, Duke, Parents Helping Parents, NAMI, and to parents all over the world whose children share her daughter’s disease. In December of 2016, Terry started working as the Development and Outreach Manager for Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley. This nonprofit does free home repairs and safety modifications for homeowners in need. Today she continues to mentor families and fight for better mental health care for children in our valley.

Officer Andrew Lopez, Heroic Intervention Community Hero

Officer Lopez was born and raised in Salinas, CA. At age 15, he started volunteering with the Salinas Police Department as a Police Explorer. After finishing high school, he attended and graduated from the California State University of Monterey Bay in 2013 with a Bachelors of Science in Social Behavioral Sciences.

Soon after graduating Officer Lopez attended the San Mateo Police Academy, he was hired by Gilroy Police Department. He currently works in the Patrol Operations Division where he responds to calls for service and actively engages with the community. Andrew was recently selected as a team member for the Gilroy/Morgan Hill Hostage Negotiators Team. The time he spends away from his fiancé́ and young daughter is spent volunteering at a middle school to engage with students during their lunch break and in school functions. He feels it is a great opportunity to build relationships between students, their families, and the police.

Heiri Schuppisser, Lifetime Achiever Community Hero

Heiri’s job consists of outreach and engagement, with the unhouse culture. It isn’t uncommon to find Heiri underneath bridges, at meal sites, parks, alleys, abandoned buildings and other unhoused encampment locations. Heiri’s outreach consists of engaging unhoused individuals who have an Axis 1 diagnosis or are dual-diagnosed. Needs are assessed and then they are connected or referred to an agency that can best meet their needs. This support enables people who would normally be disenfranchised or neglected by the system to access vital services. Heiri feels that while in the community conducting outreach, city officials, county agencies, nonprofit agencies, higher education and the community, in general, can be educated about mental health issues in order to reduce stigma in the community.

For Heiri, OUTREACH is the ability to reach individuals hard to reach, educate and assist participants, provide a wide-range of quality services, and develop a trust and rapport with individuals.

Steven Adelsheim, MD, Mover and Shaker Community Hero

Dr. Adelsheim serves as a Clinical Professor & Associate Chair for Community Engagement at Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, where he directs the Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing. Steve’s work focuses on developing and implementing early detection/intervention programs for young people in school-based, community, and primary care settings. His work includes programs for those with depression, anxiety, and prodromal/early psychosis symptoms, as well as work in youth suicide prevention, mental health policy, behavioral health and tribal mental health. He currently leads the effort to develop early intervention programs in Santa Clara County and across the US, based on Australia’s headspace model.

Robert Dolci, Mover and Shaker Community Hero

Bob Dolci has been working in Santa Clara County’s homeless services since 1993. He worked at HomeFirst (aka EHC LifeBuilders) for 13 years in various capacities, from fundraising, program development and implementation, to program management. He has been working for the last 11 years for the Office of Supportive Housing as the Housing and Homeless Concerns Coordinator, the Manager of the MHSA Housing Program, and Manager of Crisis Response Programs. Currently, he oversees several programs--especially crisis intervention/emergency shelter programs-- that serve the homeless. Bob has served as a Catholic Priest, community organizer, grant writer, and has volunteered at his church for 14 years.

Damon Korb, M.D., Mover and Shaker Community Hero

Dr. Korb is a board-certified behavioral and developmental pediatrician who examines the neurodevelopmental brain functions that determine how a child learns, behaves and socializes. Dr. Korb directs the Center for Developing Minds, an interdisciplinary program created to support children with developmental variations. With the opening of the Center for Developing Minds in 2005, Dr. Korb has held pivotal roles in the establishment of three unique clinics in Santa Clara County that serve children with developmental variations. During 2004-2005, Dr. Korb served as the pediatric consultant for the Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic at Kaiser Permanente. While at Kaiser, he assisted with the development of a prototype multidisciplinary clinic for children with autism and related disorders, which was replicated throughout the Kaiser system. Prior to that, he created the Center for Learning and Achievement at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center known as Kidscope. In addition to his clinical work, he services on the Board of Directors for the Society of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics, Parents Helping Parents, and the Unatti Foundation.

Sharri R. Sager, Mover and Shaker Community Hero

Ms. Sager joined Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH) in 1994 where she is Chief Government and Community Relations Officer. Her department is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with elected officials; building a vibrant grassroots advocacy network; community health education programs; Safe Kids network; community benefits; community health needs assessment; developing partnerships on public policy issues; and analyzing legislatives initiatives and their impact on LPCH and children and volunteer services. Sherri has more than 40 years of experience in government having worked as staff for elected officials on all levels of government, managed political campaigns as well as served as a volunteer on city and county task forces and commissions. Additionally, in 2016, Sherri co-led the development of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital first conference on Adolescent Mental Health Wellness with Dr. Steve Adelsheim. The themes for the conference was preventing adolescent suicide and reducing the stigma of mental health. Sherri has a BS in Political Science from Santa Clara University and an MPA from San José State University.

Boldly Me, Program Community Hero

Boldly Me was founded in 2012 by Alanna Powell, who has struggled with Alopecia Universal since she was 2 years old. Powell was an executive leader in high tech industries like Hewlett-Packard, Yahoo!, and Redwood Systems, and was challenged by executives to use her change management training to make the world better by creating a legacy. Powell wanted to build self-esteem for those who feel different by educating, supporting, and to mentor with behavioral health techniques and tools so they could understand their feelings, define what they need, and communicate what they want. This is what she needed to learn as a child, but without the tools, she had to struggle for 40 years to learn them. Now Boldly Me teaches children and their families these life tools so they don't have to struggle.

Boldly Me partners with schools, universities, and hospitals to educate the community. Boldly Me serves the entire community and believes in unleashing everyone's inherent unique potential through training self-compassion, compassion for others, physical wellness, and financial stability.

NAMI Santa Clara County, Program Community Hero

NAMI Santa Clara County has been providing Peer Support for persons with mental illnesses for over a decade. Beginning with the first Peer to Peer Education Recovery Class in 2003, and then expanding with the innovative Peer PAL program, NAMI SCC has long recognized the extraordinary difference one person with a lived experience of a mental illness can make for another. As of 2015, NAMI’s Peer Support programs have grown even more with the addition of Mentors on Discharge which matches peer mentors with participants at the time of a psychiatric hospitalization and Community Peers who work with chronically homeless persons as they are housed and begin to engage in their own wellness and recovery. In all of these programs, peer mentors offer understanding, support, and most importantly hope. As one participant put it: “Mental illness unleashed a hurricane of issues in my life. The relationship with my mentor brought the calm I so desperately needed. I’m not sure I would have made it without him.”

Pattie Cortese, Volunteer Community Hero

Ms. Cortese has lived in the Bay Area since 1969. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from San José State University and a Masters in Interfaith Studies from the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San José. She began her career with Catholic Charities in their Vocational Learning and Treatment Center, supporting adults with mental illness in gaining skills and employment.

Pattie has been active in youth mentoring programs since 1994 and is a founding member of the South Bay Mentoring Coalition, a group of nonprofit organizations working together to promote mentoring in Santa Clara County. She has also been involved in a number of other volunteer community activities including:

Bright Futures/Conexíon to Community, mentor trainer and coach

California Community Partners for Youth, volunteer, and advisory board member

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, youth and adult spirituality leader

Restorative Justice Council for the Diocese of San José board member

Pax Christi East San José member

Juvenile Hall Flower Program, volunteer coordinator

Carry The Vision Community Nonviolence Conference, past event manager and youth program coordinator

Santa Clara County Restorative Justice Program, volunteer area coordinator

Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County, troop leader

Pattie has served on the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees since 2015. She is married to Supervisor Dave Cortese and has two children and two adult stepchildren.

Keynote Speaker: Greta S. Hansen, Chief Assistant County Counsel, County of Santa Clara

Greta Hansen oversees a wide array of projects and initiatives for the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office. Greta’s practice focuses on public policy and litigation seeking to advance the County’s goal of securing social and economic justice for all residents. Greta has been one of the lead public lawyers in People v. Atlantic Richfield Co., a case that resulted in a $1.15 billion judgment dedicated to the abatement of lead paint, which continues to poison thousands of low-income children in California each year. Greta also successfully sued the State to preserve tens of millions of dollars in funding for mental health services for emotionally disturbed children within Santa Clara County and has been the lead attorney for the County in lawsuits against various drug manufacturers. Greta has been the primary author of several amicus briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court by major municipalities within the U.S. on various issues. She has lead various policy initiatives, including the County’s two Pay for Success initiatives and a partnership with the Obama Administration’s Office of Social Innovation. Greta is a frequent guest lecturer at Stanford Law School and Stanford Business School.  She helped establish a partnership with Stanford Law School and Stanford Medical School, under which students develop legislative and policy initiatives to advance the well-being of county residents. She has also served as counsel to the County’s Behavioral Health Services Department; Office of Supportive Housing; Office of Data Oversight Management and Evaluation; Human Trafficking Commission; Juvenile Justice Commission; and County Office of Education. In 2016, Greta received the New Leaders Council of Silicon Valley Trailblazer of the Year Award.

Susie Martin, Former Behavioral Health Board Member

In her tenure, Sharon Susie Martin contributed knowledge, experience, and many improvement suggestions. Susie represented the SCC Behavioral Health Board at the State, participated as Co-Chair of the BHB- Minority Advisory Committee, and has been a member of the BHB-Family, Adolescents and Children’s Committee. She was quite involved in several ad-hoc committees such as Behavioral Health Board Community Heroes Planning Committee and the Recruitment Committee. Susie has served as Second Vice Chair and First Vice Chair of the SCC Behavioral Health Board, and much more. In her spare time, Susie remains actively involved with photography, bridge, golf, cooking, family, and friends.

Hilbert Morales, M. P. H., Former Behavioral Health Board Member

During his membership, Mr. Morales contributed wisdom, experience, simple solutions and many improvement suggestions. Hilbert represented the SCC Behavioral Health Board (BHB) as Chair and Co-Chair of the BHB-System Planning & Fiscal Committee. He has also participated in several ad-hoc committees of the Behavioral Health Board, (i.e. Community Heroes Planning Committee, Community Heroes Selection Committee, BHB-Bylaws Committee, BHB Recruitment Committee, BHB-Webpage Committee, and more). Hilbert has served as a BHB member since 2005.

Hilbert’s focus has been on having the BHB fairly represent the diversity of the County's population, enabling input from community sources and encouragement of community outreach and feedback. Current BHB agendas reflect a broadened scope of concerns the BHB looks into before making advisory recommendations to the Director, BHSD and the Board of Supervisors. These recommendations have resulted improvements, especially in community outreach, which has resulted in more community input and feedback from all sectors of our very diverse community. Hilbert acknowledges his wife, Betty Morales, who has given him her full support and has made sure he could attend by driving him to meetings.

Gail A. Price, Former Behavioral Health Board Member

In her tenure, Ms. Price contributed knowledge and insight as a former elected official and family member with “lived experience.” She provided guidance, leadership, and advocated for behavioral health service improvements. Gail represented the SCC Behavioral Health Board (BHB) as Chair, Co-Chair of the BHB Family, Adolescents & Children’s Committee, Co-Chair of the MHSA Stakeholders Leadership Committee, and participated in several ad-hoc committees of the Behavioral Health Board, (i.e. Community Heroes Planning Committee, Community Heroes Selection Committee, BHB Community Heroes Planning Committee, etc.), and represented the BHB on the Blue Ribbon Commission, Jail Diversion Subcommittee. Gail continues to work on permanent supportive housing in the Bay Area.

Robert Nuñez Former Behavioral Health Board Member

Robert Nuñez has spent the better part of his career in public service. Bob has spent forty years in education and the last four and one-half at the East Side Union High School District, the largest high school district in Northern California. Since his retirement, Bob has remained active in public service by serving on county-wide commissions, non-profit boards, and social justice organizations.

In 2014, Bob was elected to the Milpitas Unified School Board. Bob wanted to take the next step and bring his experience in education and at the county government level together to help all citizens of Milpitas enhance their quality of life.

Bob received his AA degree in Data Processing from Fullerton Community College; his BA in Business Administration from California State University + Fullerton; his MA in Public Administration from California State University + Long Beach and his EdD/ABD in Educational Administration from United States International University + San Diego. Milpitas is home to Bob and his wife, Jil. He wants to continue contributing to the growth of Milpitas by ensuring public services and promoting economic development.

2017 Crisis Intervention Team Officers of the Year

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a model for community policing that brings together law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency departments and individuals with mental illness and their families to improve responses to people in crisis. CIT programs enhance communication, identify mental health resources for assisting people in crisis and ensure that officers get the training and support that they need. The following officers were recognized for their exceptional CIT work.

 

Agent Marianna Villaescusa, City of Palo Alto

Deputy Lee Hickinbotham, Office of the Sheriff

Officer Jesse Ashe, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Officer Jennifer Barry, Santa Clara Police Department

Officer Robert Taylor, Mountain View Police Department Officer Jose Rodriguez, California Highway Patrol

Officer Kristopher Borer, California Highway Patrol

Officer Juan de Dios Tovar, San José Police Department

Officer James Cooper, City of Campbell Police Department

Sergeant Kurt Hogan, Sr., Office of the Sheriff, Custody Bureau

Officer Jennifer Barry, Santa Clara Police Department

Officer Jose Rodriguez, California Highway Patrol (not photographed)​​