The County of San Mateo resumed full services March 7, 2019, after conclusion of a two-day labor strike by the Human Services Unit represented by the American Federation of State, county and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 829. The Human Services Unit represents 915 employees in departments including the Human Services Agency, Health, the Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office. The County’s offer to AFSCME, which the 10 representation units accepted, includes Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)/Equity Increases of 12 percent total. LEARN MORE

The County of San Mateo’s innovative employment program for emancipated foster youth which pairs them with coaches in a County department is being honored with a 2019 Agency Award for Excellence from a statewide human resources organization. The Supported Training and Employment Program (STEP) provides recently emancipated foster youth ages 18 to 24 with coaching and paid work experience to ensure their success and financial stability. The County’s Human Resources Department and Human Services Agency (HSA) launched STEP in 2009 to help foster youth who have aged out of care or are non-minor dependents transition to adulthood. LEARN MORE

The San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission, in collaboration with the San Mateo County Health Office of Public Health, Policy and Planning, released the first wellness assessment in 15 years of the LGBTQ community in San Mateo County entitled "Measuring and Improving LGBTQ Wellness in San Mateo County 2017-2018." The survey included different versions for adults and youth and covered areas such as demographics of respondents, personal economy, food security, and housing as well as sense of belonging, school safety, discrimination, health habits, and more. The survey results were presented to the Board of Supervisors and emphasized five themes for potential policy recommendations: safety, feeling welcomed and included, health, access to resources and services, and overall visibility or lack of visibility. LEARN MORE

Participants in San Mateo Medical Center’s Healthy Lifestyles Clinic were recently invited to join a SMC Park Rx event at Wunderlich Park in Woodside to promote the use and enjoyment of parks and public lands to benefit physical and mental health. The Park Rx program encourages medical professionals to write prescriptions for patients to spend time outdoors. The 50 participants took a docent-led walk, enjoyed local blackberries and met Lightning, a mini horse, at the Wunderlich stables. The event was a collaboration among the San Mateo Medical Center, Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) program, San Mateo County Parks Department, and Friends of Wunderlich organization. LEARN MORE

San Mateo County Libraries recently announce that the new Half Moon Bay Library has won an award for sustainability. Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) will honor the Half Moon Bay Library and other award winners at its 20th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, April 4, 2019. The Library, along with partners — the County of San Mateo and City of Half Moon Bay — will be presented with the Green Building Award for our innovative green practices and sustainability efforts. The building is LEED certified Gold and is expected to be a net zero energy building featuring eco-friendly components inside and out of the building. LEARN MORE