In 2006, the Board of Supervisors approved the implementation of the STARS Program to recognize County programs that demonstrate outstanding customer service and program performance in alignment with the County’s Shared Vision. The program was expanded in 2008 to include the Green and Employee Suggestion award categories and expanded again in 2016 to include a category for Diversity.

Call for entries takes place annually in the late Summer/early Fall for the prior fiscal year ending June 30th. An eligible program is one that provides an ongoing service to the public or internal customers. For the Employee Suggestion award, employees submit the suggestions at the Employee Innovation Challenge.

Call for Entries

  • Entries Starts September 2023.

Award Descriptions

The Customer Service Award recognizes and rewards County programs that demonstrate innovation and/or resourcefulness in providing outstanding customer service.

The Program Performance Award recognizes and rewards County programs that show significant improvement in performance measure results or that sustain a high level of performance.

The Green Award recognizes and rewards programs/projects that demonstrate leadership and creativity in “greening” their facilities, operations and/or programs and increasing the visibility of climate change actions by San Mateo County government. Programs that have implemented innovative greening projects are encouraged to submit entries.

The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Award recognizes and rewards County programs that foster and promote diversity and inclusion for employees and/or populations served.

2021-2022 Stars Award Recipients
Photo of 2021-22 STARS Award Winners
Customer Service Award: Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite (RICAPS) - Office of Sustainability 
The Office of Sustainability administers the Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite (RICAPS) program, a collaboration of all 20 incorporated cities and the County working on climate action planning and implementation. The Office of Sustainability hosts a monthly working group with agency staff to support countywide implementation strategies  and develops climate action planning resources. 
Program Performance Award: Specialized Enrollment and Advocacy Liaison (S.E.A.L) - County Health
The Specialized Enrollment and Advocacy Liaison (S.E.A.L) supports claimants who have been diagnosed with the full spectrum of mental health diseases under the DSM-V as well as those diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use or mental health and other chronic medical illnesses. The program receives approximately 150-200 referrals annually of which about 20-40 individuals are supported at different stages of their Social Security claim. The program's goal is to provide more financial stability and access to rehabilitation services, leading to greater self-sufficiency for the most vulnerable population in San Mateo County.
Green Award: Agricultural Pesticide Disposal Event - Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures
The Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures held an Agricultural Pesticide Disposal Event on June 28, 2022 for farmers and business to help dispose of pesticides legally, safely, and at not cost. About 28,135lbs of pesticides were collected and 26 San Mateo County businesses participated in the event. 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) Team - County Health 
Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is a national network of government agencies working together to reach a place where race no longer determines one’s life path. Within BHRS, this GARE work is aligned with and supports our Multicultural Organizational Development (MCOD) efforts and plan. 

In total, County Health’s GARE team consists of 23 individuals from six divisions. Since its inception in 2017, they have trained over 364 supervisors and managers from ten County Health divisions in the Race, Health and Equity trainings; held numerous Lunch & Learn sessions to continue divisional conversations on race; hosted film screenings to encourage learning and dialogue; completed a race and equity survey to hear the workforce’s experiences and thoughts; and completed a train the trainers to expand their capacity to offer these trainings to all staff across County Health in the upcoming year.