StarVista
Helping All Ages and Stages Through Life's Challenges
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Homelessness, substance use, intimate partner violence, mental health stressors, and relationship and communication issues are some of the biggest challenges individuals and families in San Mateo County are facing. Rates of youth suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm are on the rise. Local schools are requesting clinical services in greater amounts. As the cost of living in San Mateo County continues to rise, young adults are struggling to earn a living wage, meet their educational goals, and find stable, affordable housing. Parents are often working multiple jobs just to afford basic family needs, and as a result, struggling to be present and emotionally available for their children. The need for mental health care and resources continues to grow, and many who need support aren't able to afford or access the help they need. StarVista is committed to building solutions that address these issues and empowering individuals from all walks of life to find their best future.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT)
StarVista’s Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) Pilot Program, in partnership with San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and 4 police departments: San Mateo, Daly City, South San Francisco, and Redwood City, is designed to improve law enforcement response to community members experiencing mental health crisis.
Counseling Center
Affordable counseling services for children, adolescents, 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.
Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center (CISPC)
Provides education and crisis intervention services for people of all ages across San Mateo County including educational mental health and suicide prevention presentations at schools, online teen chatroom and texting line, a mobile crisis response team (Youth SOS), and San Mateo County's only 24-hour crisis hotline which operates 365 days per year.
Daybreak
A transitional housing program that provides housing insecure or homeless teens aged 16-21 with shelter and the skills and resources they need to live on their own. Youth staying at Daybreak receive training in:
- obtaining and maintaining employment;
- personal health and self-care;
- money management;
- meal planning/preparation;
- performing daily chores;
- accessing/using educational training and community resources;
- locating and renting housing;
- pursuing educational opportunities;
and more.
Mental health support provided includes case management, counseling, educational groups, socialization activities, and permanency planning.
Referrals to the Daybreak program are accepted from community-based organizations, schools, parents, law enforcement agencies, and self-referrals.
Early Childhood Services
The Early Childhood Services team provides services through three main branches:
- Early Childhood Community Team (ECCT): 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 their children's social-emotional needs.
- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC): Strengthens the social-emotional development and school readiness of high-risk children from birth to age five, and supports low-income families and caregivers through mental health consultation, early intervention services, clinical services, and support for parents and caregivers on-site at subsidized childcare centers.
- Healthy Homes: Serves families with children ages 0-5 who are facing a variety of stressors in their lives by providing mental health services, parent-child activity groups, parent & father support groups, and educational workshops.
First Chance Sobering Station
A first step toward recovery for first-time offenders. This 24-hour program serves as an alternative to jail for persons arrested for driving under the influence or public intoxication. This program operates 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. While clients are recovering from their intoxication, counselors complete assessments that can identify substance abuse problems and interact with the clients in an open, non-judgmental, and empathetic manner.
First Chance also welcomes individuals in a crisis or non-crisis situation that are not under the influence. These individuals will receive respite, an empathetic intervention, and needed referrals
Foster Youth Education Enrichment Services (FYEES)
FYEES provides one-on-one, strength-based case management and coaching services, in collaboration with caregivers, social workers, education liaisons and community partners, to support the academic achievement of foster youth from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The primary goal of the program is to support academic achievement. In particular, the program focuses on:
- Academic performance
- Classroom behavior
- Social and relational skills
- School engagement
- Special Education advocacy
- Enrichment/extracurricular activities
Referrals are received directly from Children and Family Services. A holistic needs assessment is completed to determine the strengths and needs of each youth and family. FYEES then addresses the youth’s needs and provides support through collaboration with caregivers, social workers, educational liaisons, school teams, and community partners.
Insights
StarVista’s Insights Adolescent Treatment Program offers outpatient substance abuse and mental health treatment services, which empower youth to take responsibility for the choices in their lives. Participants and staff work together to identify hopeful paths for the future and create positive changes for themselves and for their families.
Through careful assessment and case consultation, Insights offers comprehensive services that include individual, group, and family counseling sessions; case management; and parent support sessions. Participants work collaboratively with staff to identify and manage their emotions and learn about key topics such as substance abuse, mental health, healthy relationships, positive decision-making, communicating with parents, and more.
San Mateo County Pride Center
The San Mateo County Pride Center -- the first ever LGBTQ+ community center in San Mateo County -- was born of the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community over the years and stands for equity, inclusion, dignity, self-determination, and justice. Whether seeking behavioral health services or gathering in solidarity with others to share stories, build relationships, learn, grow, create, and heal together, LGBTQ+ individuals and communities throughout the Peninsula finally have a space to call their own!
Serving individuals of all ages, some of the Pride Center's many offerings include:
- Individual, group, family, and relationship counseling
- Case management
- Educational workshops and trainings for community and local organizations
- Peer groups
- Resource hub
- Events (e.g., Rainbow Kids, Legal Name and Gender Change Clinics, Trans Talks, etc.)
School-based Counseling Services
StarVista’s School-based Services has been providing high quality mental health services to San Mateo County students for over 10 years. The goal of this program is to support students in improving aspects of their lives that may lead to enhanced school performance and increased engagement in learning.
To accomplish this goal, we send qualified mental health clinicians to each school site and provide a myriad of services including assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, family therapy, psychoeducation, and classroom presentations, as well as extensive consultation and training with teachers, parents, administration, and other school support staff. We adapt our services to fit the unique needs of each school and San Mateo County’s diverse student population.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
At-risk youth, Children and youth, Families, LGBTQ people, Substance abusers
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Results displayed are for the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). For example, our 2020 results represent July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021.
Percentage of clients engaged in StarVista programs who achieve their primary goal
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
StarVista's mission is to deliver high impact services through counseling, skill development, and crisis prevention to kids, youth, adults and families. We offer prevention, early intervention, education, and counseling resources and services to approximately 40,000 people throughout San Mateo County, annually. From substance use and thoughts of suicide, to family violence and homelessness, we support individuals and families to access critical services and resources to address their challenges, heal from trauma and hardships, and build the lives they want to live.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our dedicated staff provide resources, guidance, and inspiration to create opportunities for healthier, stronger, more hopeful lives. As one of the largest multi-service non-profit organizations in San Mateo County, we work closely with local governments to fill unmet needs, partner with schools to connect directly with youth, and collaborate with other non-profit organizations to share expertise and best practices. Our staff prides itself on setting a higher standard of care and being open to new, innovative approaches that improve client outcomes. All of our programs are client-focused and strength-based, and our staff are committed to continuously expanding their knowledge to ensure clients receive exceptional care.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
StarVista has been in existence since 1966 and is an acknowledged leader among its peers. The agency's staff of nearly 200 is composed of seasoned leadership, clinical directors, and highly trained program personnel. StarVista's staff are passionate, reflective of San Mateo County's diverse community, and include individuals from a wide range of demographics, cultures, and life experiences. The agency's robust training infrastructure ensures staff and interns receive ongoing training to develop/maintain skills, expand knowledge, stay abreast of evolving trends and barriers, and ensure clients are receiving exceptional care. StarVista's 15-member board of directors is enthusiastic about the agency's work and actively dedicated to furthering StarVista's mission.
Additionally, the StarVista's nearly 30 programs work together to provide comprehensive support to meet each client's unique needs. For example, a young person seeking transitional housing services through StarVista's Daybreak program may also benefit from crisis intervention services at StarVista's Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center, substance use treatment at StarVista's Insights program, or the broad spectrum of LGBTQ-centered services offered at its San Mateo County Pride Center.
StarVista also draws upon the strong base of partners and collaborators it has cultivated through its 50+ years of service to the community. The agency collaborates with an expansive network of local organizations, schools, service providers, law enforcement and city and county officials to deliver a composite of vital services that aim to fully meet the needs of our community.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since 1966, StarVista programs have transformed the lives of children, youth, adults, families and the communities they live in. Through decades of service and growth, StarVista now offers almost 30 programs whose services span across the entirety of San Mateo County. The agency and its programs are supported through a growing list of funders and a $19M+ diversified funding base. Through nearly 200 highly trained staff, interns and volunteers, the agency now serves approximately 40,000 individuals every year.
Accomplishments over the last few years include:
- The nationwide 988 roll-out incorporating our Crisis Center, the only 24/7/365 crisis hotline in San Mateo County
- Piloting and expanding StarVista's Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) program (which pairs our mental health clinicians with law enforcement to respond in person together when mental health calls arise) from operating in 4 San Mateo County cities to 12
- Launching a new specialized mobile crisis response program for youth where trained clinicians meet youth wherever they are experiencing crisis
- The 5-year anniversary of our Pride Center, the first and only county-wide LGBTQ+ center
- Introducing a new trauma-informed mental health program to meet the specific needs of Half Moon Bay individuals impacted by the 2023 Half Moon Bay shootings
Looking toward the future, StarVista will continue striving to expand services within its programs and as an agency, in addition to deepening its geological reach throughout San Mateo County and beyond.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
StarVista
Board of directorsas of 11/29/2023
Ms. Alina Lloyd
Alison Proctor
Seiler LLP
Erick Young
Apple
Ken Pesso
Retired Assistant Chief, Probation Officer
Jeneé Littrell
Student Services, San Mateo County Office of Education
Alina Lloyd
Merrill Lynch Private Banking & Investment Group
Steve Shray
Consultant
Chief Eric Wollman
Retired from Burlingame Police Department
Howard Yang
Ed Barberini
San Bruno Police Department
Stephan Marshall
Coldwell Banker
Fred Shen
Abbott Vascular
Nancy Minnig
SolMateo
Doug Stewart
Heritage Bank of Commerce
Marilyn Thomas
UCSF
Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza
West Valley College
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/17/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.