Hope Services

10/16/2026

Congratulations to Anna Fernandez, LMFT, Executive Director of Behavioral Health, on completing her two-year term as President of the Behavioral Health Contractors’ Association of Santa Clara County (BHCA)!

Anna concluded her term on June 30, 2026, after four years of leadership with the association, serving two years as Vice President followed by two years as President.

We are deeply grateful for Anna’s continued leadership and advocacy on behalf of the IDD community. Thank you, Anna, for all you do. 💙

10/14/2026

💙 October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the talent, skills, and perspective people with disabilities bring to the workplace.

Meet Prabhav, a student in Tailored Day Services’ Occupational Career Life Studies (OCLS) program, a two-year college-based program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offered in partnership with San Jose State University. Through peer mentorship and a personalized mix of academics, social growth, and work experience, OCLS meets each student where they are.

Prabhav is also putting his skills to work at the front desk at Hope, building real-world experience toward his career goals.

▶️ Watch his story to see how he’s growing in the classroom and on the job, and hear what he’s dreaming of next.

10/14/2026

Hope Services has successfully completed another CARF survey, extending our accreditation and reaffirming the quality of our services and programs.

CARF accreditation is earned through a rigorous, independent review of an organization’s programs, practices, and outcomes against internationally recognized standards for quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

This achievement reflects the dedication of teams across Hope and our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality services to the people and families we serve. Thank you to everyone who made it possible. 💙

10/13/2026

Hope Services was pleased to meet with Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez and Watsonville Councilmember Maria Orozco to share our mission, programs, and priorities.

Our conversation focused on the importance of accessible healthcare, community-based services, and a strong Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.

We appreciate the opportunity to connect with local leaders, share the needs of the communities we serve, and explore ways to strengthen services and opportunities for people with disabilities throughout Santa Cruz County. 💙

10/13/2026

🎨 Save the date! Catch The New Hope Band live at the second annual Creative Spotlight exhibition, celebrating Bay Area artists with IDD.

📅 Friday, November 13, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco

Meet the artists, enjoy incredible artwork, and hear from guest speaker Antonia Dapena-Tretter, Art Curator at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. 💙

10/12/2026

Tailored Day Services’ Occupational Career Life Studies program is a two-year higher education classroom support program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offered in partnership with San Jose State University.

Through peer mentorship and a personalized academic, social, and work-experience curriculum, OCLS meets each student where they are. Students grow, build confidence, and thrive in the areas that matter most to them.

Learn more about Hope Services: https://www.hopeservices.org

10/12/2026

The Peninsula Banjo Band, led by Clyde McMorrow, filled our San Jose Senior Center with music and nostalgia, playing favorites like "Edelweiss," "Five Foot Two," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads." Thank you for bringing so much joy to our participants! 🎵

10/09/2026

Last week, CDSA members celebrated our direct support workforce twice...together! We kicked off CDSA Aligned with great news: AB 2414, our bill to formally recognize direct support professionals (DSPs) in California law, was signed by Governor Newsom! So grateful to our legislative champion Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen who authored the bill and helped us earn recognition for DSPs across the state.

Then we honored our five DSP Empowerment Award winners at the awards reception at Lake Tahoe. It was inspiring to hear from all of these exceptional DSPs! Their dedication to Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their passion for service truly shines.

Thank you to all the members who joined us in Tahoe, supported the conference, or even just nominated your fantastic DSPs for our awards program. And of course, thank you to everyone who advocated for AB 2414 at every step of the way.

10/09/2026

Congratulations to Christina Smith, IP Job Coach, on receiving a Recognition of Merit Award from San Andreas Regional Center’s Service Above Self Awards! For 8 years, her person-centered approach has helped countless individuals find meaningful work and thrive. Learn more about her journey: https://loom.ly/Nzm8Pbw 💙

This year, the Service Above Self Awards hosted by San Andreas Regional Center recognized Christina Smith, IP Job Coach, with a Recognition of Merit Award. Over her 8 years with Hope Services, Christina has consistently represented our core values and mission through her exceptional support style. C...

10/09/2026

Building healthy and inclusive communities. 💙

In honor of World Mental Health Day, our Mental Health team walked with NAMI Walks to bring Hope to our community, raise awareness, and show support for everyone affected by mental health challenges.

Mental health is essential to overall well-being. When we speak openly, reduce stigma, and make support easy to find, people feel less alone and are more likely to seek help.

Making Music, Giving Hope. 🎶 The New Hope Band performed at the event because music connects us. It offers comfort, encourages expression, and reminds us that no one has to walk alone.

Thank you to everyone who participated and walked with Hope!