COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Board of Supervisors

DATE:

February 12, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 3, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

No

VOTE REQUIRED:

No

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Richard Gordon

SUBJECT:

Appointments to the Mental Health Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that Robert Ortiz and Alex Sharp be appointed to the Mental Health Board representing the category of Consumer. The appointments would be effective immediately and run for a term to conclude on September 30, 2010.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: 2

Goal(s): Civic engagement -- including voting, public service, charitable giving, volunteerism, and participation in public discussions of important issues -- is uniformly high among the diverse population of San Mateo County.

BACKGROUND:

There are currently four vacancies on the Mental Health Advisory Board including two of the vacancies for the consumer position.

Alex Sharp is a resident of Pacifica who is a consumer of mental health services in San Mateo County. Among his many civic engagements, Mr. Sharp volunteers as an advocate for Mental Health Services. He is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at Skyline Community College

Robert Ortiz is a resident of Redwood City who is a consumer of mental health services in San Mateo County. Mr. Ortiz graduated from Woodside High School and is currently pursuing a Psychology degree at the College of San Mateo. He has previously worked as a Peer Counselor at Caminar and has volunteered as a poll worker.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.