Dear San Bernardino County Family,
 
As we exit June, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, and celebrate Independence Day and the birth of our nation, remember that the Fourth of July is a time when well-intentioned fireworks can trigger and increase feelings of anxiety, sadness, fear, and painful memories for persons who have been impacted by trauma. This really applies to all of us as we live in a new normal of COVID19 and social unrest.
 
Below are suggestions that may help:
 

• Stay in and make a plan - Prepare in advance by practicing calming strategies such as finding a quiet place, using noise canceling headphones/ear buds, listening to music, or prayer/meditation. If you do go out, plan an exit strategy in the event you begin to feel uncomfortable, wear a mask and social distance.

 

• Talk with others - Giving your family, friends and/or neighbors a quick heads up before they start celebrating with fireworks can help. You can choose how much information to share, but the message really is that if they are planning to set off fireworks to please advise you ahead of time so you can be ready.

 

• Acclimate now - Many of us have experienced fireworks more often and earlier this year, but for those who haven’t, get yourself used to loud noises by popping corn and bouncing a ball in the house.

 
These are unprecedented times, and feeling on edge, especially now, is normal. The important thing is to take care of yourself and pay attention to your stress level which may be particularly high. As always, thank you for all that you do every day for the people we serve and for each other!
 
Dr. Veronica Kelley
​Director

This guide, developed by DBH's Public Relations and Outreach (PRO) program, is your resource for creating effective collateral materials. 

​The guide is posted below and with other resources on PRO's webpage.

I am pleased to officially welcome Deborah Donnelly to the position of program manager II of Juvenile Justice Programs, effective June 20.
 
Ms. Donnelly obtained her bachelors in social work from State University of New York, College at Brockport, her masters in social work from the University at Buffalo, New York and has been a licensed clinical social worker since 2008. She is a colleague of the Georgetown University, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform where she received a certificate in Multi Systems Collaboration.
 
Ms. Donnelly has been with the San Bernardino County Dept. of Behavioral Health (DBH) since 2003. She was hired as a clinical therapist I within the Juvenile Justice Program (JJP), promoted to a clinical therapist II with the Juvenile Justice Community Reintegration (JJCR) team in 2013, and became the JJCR clinic supervisor in 2014. Since Feb. 2019, she has been the acting program manager II for JJP.
 
Ms. Donnelly has assisted with a variety of assignments including the development of the Forensic Adolescent Services Team (FAST) and the Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation (C.A.S.E.). She completed the Leadership Development Program in 2017 and the San Bernardino County Future Leaders Series in 2019.
 
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Donnelly to her new assignment.
 
Thank you,
Veronica Kelley, DSW, LCSW
Director

I am pleased to officially welcome Valerie Dunn to the position of program manager II of Adult Criminal Justice effective June 20, 2020.
 
Ms. Dunn earned her bachelor of arts in psychology from Whittier College and received her master of arts in marriage and family therapy from Hope International University. She also holds certifications as a Correctional Healthcare Provider, Clinical Trauma Professional, and Anger Management Specialist.
 
Ms. Dunn began her career with San Bernardino County in 2015 as a pre-licensed clinical therapist I with the department’s Correctional Mental Health Services and promoted to a licensed clinical therapist I with Corrections To A Safer Community (CTASC) shortly after. In 2018, Ms. Dunn promoted to a clinical therapist II position with Choosing Healthy Options to Instill Change and Empowerment (CHOICE) and later promoted to clinic supervisor with the CTASC, CSTAR, and DOORS programs.
 
Throughout her time with the Department, Ms. Dunn completed the Leadership Development Program; participated in the program development of CTASC and DOORS; and assisted in expanding the services provided within the CSTAR program. She has collaborated with law and justice partners from various agencies including the Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department, Superior Court, and Department of State Hospitals to ensure quality mental health and substance use disorder services are available to justice-involved clients.
     
Ms. Dunn will continue overseeing STAR, CSTAR, CTASC and DOORS. 
 
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Dunn to her new assignment.

Thank you, 
Georgina Yoshioka,  DSW, LCSW, MBA
Deputy Director

Attention DBH Physicians!
​
Do you have a clinical question related to addiction medicine? Look no further. The SUDRS Physician Consultation Service is now available. Follow these simple steps, and get your challenging questions answered by Board Certified Addiction Specialists.

1. Download the Physician Consultation Form, available here and on the DBH website, on the "Departmental Forms" page: http://wp.sbcounty.gov/dbh/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SUDRS023.pdf
2. Complete sections I, II and III.
3. Fax the completed form to (909) 501-0800.

 

• Your request will be returned within 2 working days.
• Be sure to write a progress notes including pertinent details and add the consultation note to the  chart.
• Document your time completing the consultation with a Medi-Cal Billable code if the client is enrolled in a qualifying treatment program and you are an enrolled Drug-Med-Cal provider or Medi-Cal Non Billable Code if those conditions are NOT met.
• Physician Consultation services procedure codes are located in the universal CDI and are specific to level of care.

For questions, email DBH-SUDRSADMIN@dbh.sbcounty.gov or call (909) 501-0753.