COMMUNITY AWARD

Starlight Community Services 

Pictured are Michelle Buckley, Starlight TM Program Director; Jessica Tang, Director of School-Based SUTS and TBS; Sarah Haggis, Director of Outpatient Continuum; Cheryl Englestad, Administrator; and Karima Irany, Assistant Administrator.

REASONS THEY WON:

• Through their relatively new ACT-Assertive Community Treatment program, staff effectively engaged with previously uncharted community sectors and successfully collaborated with key stakeholders.

• ACT expanded its services to include outreach to unhoused individuals and those needing dual diagnosis treatment.

• Participated in their community’s “Walk a Mile in their Shoes” fundraiser which raises awareness about sexual violence

Honorable Mentions:

Stars Community Services

• Successfully improved school relationships despite some challenging situations.

Olive View Crisis Residential Treatment (CRT)

• Created partnerships with housing providers, resulting in more stable placements for their discharged clients

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE AWARD

The Wraparound Teams at Central Star, Starlight, and Star View TEAMMATES

Pictured are Fatima Vazquez, Central Star TM Program Director; Jennifer Seidel, Central Star Administrator; Michelle Buckley, Starlight TM Program Director; and Tina Binda, Star View Administrator.

REASONS THEY WON:

• The wraparound teams in three counties prepared for high-fidelity wraparound, leveraged strong county relationships and focused on trauma-informed practices.

Honorable Mentions:

Central Star Community Services, Fresno

• Implemented a Total Quality Management (TQM) project that resulted in reduced turnover.



• Substantially increased their Great Place to Work scores.

Star View TEAMMATES

• Reduced turnover to 10.4% (while turnover in our industry is above 60%,) re-established their Employee Advisory Committee, and improved employee performance and productivity (44% productivity, surpassing their own target.)

INNOVATION AWARD

Central Star Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF)

From left are Chris Esqueda, PHF Administrator; Christine Graham, VP and Chief Clinical Services Officer; and Pamela Garcia, Director of Nursing.

REASONS THEY WON:

• Increased client’s engagement with their medication treatment by reducing the stigma of psychotropic medications.

Honorable Mention

Central Star Community Services – Stanislaus

•  Empowered parents through education focused on supportive home environments, advocating in school settings, and understanding their child’s diagnosis. 

Honorable Mention

SBHG Human Resources Information System

•  Made an incredible effort to get all of the current and stored employee files digitized.



• They have implemented various innovative approaches to utilize Workday in ways that support the organization.

• Over the past year, the HRIS Department has worked to automate several administrative tasks and streamline existing processes.

QUALITY AWARD

STARS Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC)

Christine Graham, SBHG VP and Chief Clinical Services, presented the award to Anju Rosintoski, Stars Administrator, and Joaquin Galvin, Program Director.

REASONS THEY WON:

• Achieved an exceedingly smooth opening, all while learning to treat a population new to the company.



•  Implemented a practice the company had not used before….in a new county …. and while the campus was under construction.

Honorable Mention

Star View Adolescent Center

• Reimagined their program to take admissions directly onto the Crisis Treatment Facility.

• Served voluntary clients at the Psychiatric Health Facility without the use of seclusion and restraint.

Honorable Mention

Star View Behavioral Health Urgent Care Centers

•   Made adjustments to practice and protocol to serve more members of the community struggling with both behavioral and medical conditions. 

Program of the Year Award

STARS Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC)

Pictured are Anju Rosintoski, Stars CS Administrator, and Joaquin Galvin, Program Director.

REASONS THEY WON:

• Smoothly opened this new program in the midst of many challenges. (The company had not operated an MHRC for about 15 years, and this one is in San Mateo in a new county for us.)

• Also recognized with the Quality Award this year.

Honorable Mention

Valley Star Crisis Mobile Response Team

• Built strong collaboration with hospitals, law enforcement and the County

• Represents our company’s first mobile response team providing overnight services to individuals in psychiatric crisis. 

Honorable Mention

Central Star Youth Psychiatric Health

Facility (PHF) in Bakersfield

• Met the challenge of opening a PHF in a new county and a new facility.

• This is the first time our company has provided acute inpatient treatment for this younger population.

• The PHF includes a separate area for safely treating children 11 and younger, our first time providing acute inpatient treatment for this younger population.

Agency of the Year Award

Central Star Community Services, Fresno

Pictured are Nona Akopyan, Program Director; Jennifer Seidel, Administrator; Fatima Vazquez, TM Program Director; and Karly Wiley, SBHG Sr. Regional Administrator

REASONS THEY WON:

• Successfully oversee five programs in a challenging county, achieving higher productivity and improved financial performance in 2025.

• Maintained strong Great Place to Work scores and reduced turnover.

• Built strong relations with Fresno County, resulting in being awarded two new FSP programs along with the re-awards of two existing programs. 

Honorable Mention

SBHG Electronic Medical Records Department

• Achieved a milestone with the ability to document services so they can be claimed to Medicare.

• Implemented Order Connect EMAR/NX which supports e-prescribing and other tools to streamline medication ordering and administration.

• Avoided downtime for the EMR and provided strong 24/7 user support.

Honorable Mention

Starlight Community Services

• Implemented Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) for adults and achieved confirmation of fidelity in their first try.

• Achieved high Great Place to Work scores.

• Strong relations with Santa Clara County plus good financial performance.

Congratulations to all the winners and honorable mentions for your exceptional work this year!