San Mateo County Health System Names New Behavioral Health, Recovery Services Director

From the County of San Mateo: The San Mateo County Health System is pleased to announce that David A. Young, PhD, MPH, has been appointed director of its Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) division. Young succeeds Stephen Kaplan, who is retiring after twelve years of service to the County and four decades in the field of mental health and substance use services.

David A. Young comes to BHRS most recently from SageSurfer, a Fremont-based behavioral health technology company, where he served as Chief Clinical Officer. With more than thirty years’ experience in behavioral health, in both the nonprofit and private sectors, he has also held executive leadership positions in such Bay Area community organizations as Edgewood Center for Children and Families, Community Health for Asian Americans, Stars Behavioral Health Group, and Asian Community Mental Health Services.

“David joins the Health System at a critical time for mental health and substance use services in San Mateo County and across the nation,” says Louise Rogers, Chief of the San Mateo County Health System. “There is more cause than ever to provide the best care to those in need with compassion and cultural humility. David’s emphasis on health equity and his experience working with impacted populations will further BHRS’ relationship as a trusted partner in the community.”

Under Kaplan’s direction, BHRS expanded client access to care, integrated behavioral health services across the Health System, utilized San Mateo County Measure A and K funds to expand access to youth treatment, support re-entry services for people involved in the criminal justice system, built new facilities, fostered community partnerships, and advocated for expanded behavioral health coverage and resources at the state and national levels.

Behavioral Health and Recovery Services provides care to approximately 15,000 clients per year, through six County-operated clinics and a network of over 380 contracted providers.
Interviews and high-resolution images for publication are available upon request.
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Photo courtesy of San Mateo County