Division of Peer Based Services’ BEST Neighborhoods Nationally Recognized

The RAMS Bridge and Engagement Services Team (BEST) Neighborhoods program, run in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, was nationally recognized with a 2024 NACo Achievement Award. The award is given for outstanding and innovative county government programs that improve access to behavioral health services for its residents. 

BEST Neighborhoods is a collaboration between RAMS, the SF Department of Public Health, and other community partners to provide street-based behavioral health care throughout the city. The program centralizes care coordination and management for people who are unhoused or unsheltered with unmet behavioral health needs. Through a neighborhood-based approach, the BEST Neighborhoods program expands SF Department of Public Health’s operational capacity and coordination to provide timely behavioral health assessment, engagement, and community-based therapeutic interventions. BEST Neighborhoods works in underserved neighborhoods 7-days a week and provides time-limited, focused, and phased interventions to support clients in transitioning to ongoing care and support. Over the past six months, the BEST Neighborhoods team had over 4,500 engagements.

According to the National Association of Counties (NACo), the NACo Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding county government programs and services since 1970. Through a non-competitive application process, noteworthy programs receive awards in 18 categories that cover a vast range of county responsibilities.