StarVista, which contracts with San Mateo County to provide behavioral health counseling, announced today that it will close on Aug. 1 due to what it said were “financial challenges” and an unsuccessful merger attempt.
While StarVista programs will be ending, its Crisis Center and San Mateo County Pride Center will move to more affordable locations in the county and will remain open.
The nonprofit laid off a number of employees in April in order to cut costs. At one point, StarVista had 200 employees, its website said.
“We are heartbroken to share this news,” said Shareen Leland, LMFT, acting Chief Executive Officer of StarVista. “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.”
StarVista, based in Burlingame, works with various local governments throughout San Mateo County including police agencies and school districts to provide counseling, training and crisis intervention programs.
In 2023, an audit found that StarVista’s clinical director, Clarise Blanchard, 77, had embezzled $700,000 over a 13-year period, according to the District Attorney’s Office. She was arrested, made bail and her case is still pending with a preliminary hearing set for Sept. 4 in San Mateo County Superior Court. Blanchard was named San Mateo County Woman of the Year in 2008 for her work with helping women with substance abuse and mental health issues.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, StarVista had an operating deficit of $434,906, according to data it submitted to the IRS. It reported revenue that year of $16,273,133 — down from the $17,109,127 in the previous fiscal year.
CEO Sara Larios Mitchell was paid $237,642 not including $10,213 in compensation from related organizations.
They didn’t discover she was ripping them off for 13 years? Is that right? They should be closing down and replaced with somebody who is more careful with their money. There’s no excuse for that.
The embezzlement was announced couple of months after the discovery, and the span of 13 years was unbelievable. It appears it’s operating in a loss and shocking that after 55 years. the organization is closing doors.
The announcement that they’re closing is just a way of pressuring the County to come up with more money for StarVista. They’re not going to shutdown, particularly with the County so big on LGBTQ rights. Watch. One of the supervisors will propose a bailout in the millions and the rest of the board will go along. Can’t be stingy with taxpayer funds, can we?