May Newsletter
Ah, June! The days are getting longer, the sun is shining a little brighter—and here at the County, it’s also...budget season. That means packed calendars, long meetings, and lots of spreadsheets. But fear not—just when it seems like the work will never end, a bit of summer fun is just around the corner.
To celebrate wrapping up the upcoming intense month of fiscal planning, I hope you’ll join me at one of our most beloved local traditions: the Rose, White & Blue Parade! Whether you come to cheer from the sidewalk or walk alongside us, I promise you’ll leave with a smile (and maybe some D4 goodies).
Now let’s dive into what we’ve been working on…
Board of Supervisors Meetings
Budget Workshop Meetings
Each spring, Santa Clara County holds a series of public budget workshops. While these meetings don’t formally approve spending—that comes later in June—they are critical in shaping the direction of our County’s priorities for the year ahead.
The workshops provide departments with a chance to walk through key programs, projected challenges, and areas of need. They also give the Board an opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, and offer early feedback. Most importantly, they help us align our values with our investments.
This year, our focus – by necessity - is strengthening our foundation: investing in the core and essential services that people rely on every day. From behavioral health and public safety to homelessness prevention, family supports, and healthcare access, we’re making sure our community is supported in the most effective, equitable ways possible.
While final budget decisions will be made in the coming weeks, these workshops set the tone. They allow us to show where we intend to hold steady, where we need to adapt, and where we might push forward despite financial constraints. These conversations keep our focus on what matters most: the wellbeing of our residents.
The road ahead may be tough—but our commitment to service is unwavering.
May 6 Board Meeting
Latino Health Assessment
At our May 6 meeting, I joined my colleagues in receiving the long-anticipated Latino Health Assessment (LHA)—a nearly 300-page report offering a deep, data-driven look at the physical, mental, economic, and social health of our County’s Latino community.
Huge thanks to the Public Health Department, the County Executive’s Office, and our many community partners who contributed to this project over more than two years. I’m especially grateful to Supervisor Arenas for initiating this effort and continuing to champion it.
While the report offers a Countywide lens, much of the data focuses on East San José and South County. As we continue the work, it will be essential to include other high-need neighborhoods such as Cadillac Winchester in my district. This primarily monolingual, low-income community has long faced persistent challenges in safety, healthcare access, and economic opportunity. I was encouraged to see Cadillac Winchester identified in the report’s recommendations for place-based, community-led interventions that can support mental health, healing, and restorative justice.
This report is a crucial step forward. But it’s what we do next—especially during the upcoming community action planning process—that will determine how effectively we respond.
Quarterly Report on Mental Health and Substance Use
The most recent report shows real progress in treating mental health and substance use as public health crises. Since July 2022, we’ve added or expanded access to 208 beds, serving nearly 2,000 people annually—already 39% of the way toward our 2030 goal of just over 500 additional beds.
Our work through CalAIM also shows promise, especially with new contracts to expand housing support services. Looking ahead, I’m eager to see us maximize opportunities like the transitional rent benefit launching in 2026.
I also appreciate the outreach to nearly 500 older adults through our Senior Nutrition Program, and I’ve requested that this be expanded to include Meals on Wheels.
One concerning data point from the report was the suicide rates among older adults Campbell and Santa Clara. I’ve asked for an analysis to better understand the contributing factors and will connect with my counter parts in those cities to work on stronger supports for this population.
May 20 Board Meeting
Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) Governance Realignment
At our May 20 meeting, the Board unanimously approved the County Executive’s recommendation to realign the governance structure of the Santa Clara Family Health Plan. This change is designed to strengthen the strategic relationship between the County and SCFHP as we face growing threats to Medi-Cal funding at both the state and federal levels.
To be clear: for residents whose managed care plan is SCFHP, this action will not change your doctor, your healthcare plan, or what you pay for services.
Since 1995, Santa Clara County has operated under a two-plan system: SCFHP (a local initiative) and Anthem Blue Cross (a commercial provider). This realignment sets the stage for a long-term goal of transitioning to a single County-owned and operated plan—subject to state approval. With a unified strategy, we’ll be better positioned to increase reimbursement rates, improve care, and recover costs.
Currently, the County relies on general fund dollars to subsidize the real cost of health care because the reimbursements we receive from SCFHP do not cover full costs. This is money that could otherwise support other important safety net services that do not receive any state or federal funding sources. This governance shift is a step toward long-term sustainability.
One County, One Future
In Santa Clara County, we believe that everyone—regardless of where they were born—deserves to feel safe, supported, and connected to the resources they need. That’s why we launched the One County, One Future campaign.
This initiative provides multilingual, accessible information about essential services—from health care and housing to legal aid and emergency support.
We’re working closely with our Vietnamese, Latino, Chinese, and Filipino communities to ensure no one is left behind.
We also continue to support the Rapid Response Network, a trusted 24/7 hotline offering immediate support during immigration enforcement actions.
This isn’t just a message—it’s a commitment to equity, access, and dignity for all who call Santa Clara County home. Visit the Office of Immigrant Relations to learn more or get involved.
SV@Home Women’s Brunch
Earlier this month, I offered remarks at SV@Home’s Women’s Brunch for Affordable Housing Month.
I reflected on what “home” means—and why housing stability is especially critical for women and mothers. Too often, the burden of housing insecurity falls heaviest on women, both emotionally and economically.
Santa Clara County is taking action. From Measure A, which has funded more than 5,000 deeply affordable homes, to guaranteed income pilots and targeted prevention efforts, we are investing in long-term solutions that promote dignity and stability.
With four women— all of us mothers—serving on the Board, this work is personal. Thank you to SV@Home for bringing us together to share stories and strengthen the movement for housing justice.
Friendly Voices: Celebrating Older Adult Month
Friendly Voices is more than just a phone call—it’s a lifeline.
This program connects volunteers with older adults experiencing isolation and loneliness—an issue that worsened dramatically during the pandemic and is linked to increased suicide risk.
My office proudly supported this initiative through our District 4 Budget Inventory process, and I’m grateful to Morgan Will and Mitul Biswas, both D4 residents, for sharing the powerful impact of these conversations.
To every Friendly Voices volunteer: thank you. You are making a real difference.
In honor of Older Adult Month, we’re spotlighting organizations like Friendly Voices. As Mitul says in the video, consider volunteering—or simply help spread the word.
Listen to some of the volunteers experience here.
Learn more: https://friendlyvoices.org
Podcast + Blog
Podcast – And Just One More Thing
This month, I sit down with Sabry Ramirez, Division Director of Cross-System Initiatives at Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services, to talk about California’s new CARE Court program.
This civil court-based approach helps connect people with a serious mental illness—specifically untreated schizophrenia—to care, housing, and services. We discuss how Santa Clara County prepared for the launch of CARE court, the opportunities CARE Court presents, and the important questions we’re still asking as implementation begins.
Blog – A Real Plan to End Homelessness
This month’s blog tackles a topic that continues to be misunderstood, despite the tremendous amount of attention afforded it: homelessness. I break down Santa Clara County’s approach through our Community Plan to End Homelessness and our Continuum of Care—explaining the philosophies, goals, and challenges we face as we work to create permanent solutions.
You can read the full blog here.
As always, I and my team are here to address your questions and concerns; please reach out anytime.
Warmly,
Susan