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StarVista, which has provided mental and behavioral health services in San Mateo County for nearly 60 years, will shut down on Aug. 1, the nonprofit announced Thursday, July 17. Officials said they made the decision, “with deep sadness,” following a failed merger last month with another county nonprofit. The decision came amid financial challenges.
In June, the Burlingame-based organization explored options to ensure the continuation of StarVista’s services under new stewardship, but that was unsuccessful, according to a press release. StarVista declined to share the name of the other nonprofit it hoped to merge with last month.
“We are heartbroken to share this news,” said acting Chief Executive Officer Shareen Leland in a prepared statement. “Our team, our potential merger partner, and our San Mateo County partners worked together in good faith to navigate StarVista’s complex situation. We are deeply grateful for their time, care, and thoughtful consideration of our programs, clients and staff. While this was not the outcome we had hoped for, we remain committed to supporting a thoughtful transition.”
The organization did not share more details about its financial struggles, but in 2023, a former employee pleaded not guilty to embezzling $700,000 from the nonprofit. StarVista’s required 2023 financials, filed with the IRS, showed that its revenue totaled $16.3 million and expenses amounted to $16.7 million.
StarVista began as a small human services agency focused on local suicide prevention in 1966 as “Peninsula Suicide Prevention, Inc.,” according to its website. It adopted the name “StarVista” in 2011. It employed 240 doctors, clinicians, social workers, and professionals, along with 45 clinical interns, according to the website. It served about 38,000 clients in 2024, according to GuideStar.
StarVista programs will be ending, but the StarVista Crisis Center and San Mateo County Pride Center will continue to operate through other organizations in the county, according to Audrey Bockholt, a senior marketing manager at StarVista.
“We look forward to sharing more updates about these programs soon,” she said in an email.
The press release also addressed recent rumors that the closure of StarVista’s youth housing programs resulted in the loss of secure housing for its clients.
“Despite working with a very tight timeline and significant challenges, our team has collaborated extensively with San Mateo County partners to secure ongoing housing and services for youth in these programs,” the release states. “The youth remain safely housed, and we are committed to ensuring as smooth and thoughtful a transition as possible.”
In 2024, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors funded an around $2 million, two-year program to integrate StarVista’s crisis response team within the Menlo Park, San Bruno and East Palo Alto police departments. The program expanded to eight police departments earlier this year, according to StarVista’s website, including in Redwood City and North Fair Oaks. This news organization has reached out to the county about what will happen to these programs.
If you are in need of immediate mental or behavioral health support, call or text 988.
