Public Education & Policy :: Mental Health Services Act

News Alert, MHSA Issue

CNMHC News Alert
Mental Health Services Act Issue
February, 2005

Network Resolution to Provide Support

The following resolution was passed at the California Network of Mental Health Clients' Board Meeting on January 16, 2005. The Resolution is meant to assist in meeting the needs of clients throughout the state in attaining "meaningful" involvement in local, regional, and statewide planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Mental Health Services Act.

The Network develop and sponsor a Client Implementation Team for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Implementation. This team will be based on the Prop 63 Team California Clients (with the inclusion of additional members as needed to make it most effective) to develop a plan for the California Network to provide Technical Assistance to clients for timely and complete consumer involvement in each county and region as well as statewide in all stages of planning, implementation and evaluation.

Some of the goals this team will strive to achieve:

• The Client Implementation Team will assist the Network in developing a plan to have the capability to provide technical assistance to local areas: for example, a full-time statewide MHSA Client Implementation Coordinator and five half-time Regional Implementation Coordinators.
• Until this plan is implemented, this team, when possible, will directly or indirectly provide support and response for clients throughout the State who are experiencing barriers in their attempts for meaningful inclusion and in moving their counties toward implementing the MHSA as it is intended.
• The team will develop a template for consumer involvement in the planning, implementation, and evaluation components of the MHSA that will be relevant to both rural and densely populated counties.

State MHSA Planning Process

Draft Requirements

The California Department of Mental Health has produced a DRAFT of "Program and Expenditure Requirements for Mental Health Services Act - Community Services and Supports." This is a draft of the state's requirements that will be the guideline for Counties in planning their MHSA services. It is extremely important for clients to have input into these requirements - as they are the baseline for the kinds of services that the counties plan.

Planning Process

The CA Department of Mental Health has scheduled Special Topic Workgroups for stakeholders on its Draft Community Services and Supports (System of Care) Program and Expenditure Plan as well as General Stakeholder Meetings. The Special Topic series of workgroups on Community Services and Supports will be divided into 4 different simultaneous workgroups: children and teenagers; transitional youth; adults; and older adults. There is also a Special Project Workgroup for Small County Issues. (Please see enclosed schedule of meetings.)

Support for Client Involvement in Stakeholder Process

The CA Department of Mental Health has established a goal - in compliance with the MHSA - of "meaningful involvement of consumers and families as full partners from the inception of planning through implementation and evaluation of identified activities." Accordingly, the Department has provided the California Network with funds to support the travel and other expenses of clients to ensure their participation in the stakeholder input process.

The California Network, because of Ca Department of Mental Health's support, will be able to sponsor clients to attend the series of Special Topic Workgroups on Community Services and Supports. There are three different Community Services and Supports Workgroups: on March 7, March 23 and March 30.

In addition, the California Network will be able to sponsor clients to attend the Workgroup on Small County Issues. The Small County Issues Workgroup is on March 16.

All Workgroups, including Pre-Meetings with Client/Family, are from 9:30 AM to 4 PM.

The California Network encourages you to apply for this assistance to attend these important workgroups. "Nothing About Us, Without Us" not only means policy makers include clients in all mental health related decision-making, it also means that clients take the responsibility to make our voices heard and effect policy. If you are interested in receiving financial support to attend these Workgroups, please fill out the enclosed Application for Support to Attend Community Services and Support Workgroups.

Although the California Network can only financially support a limited amount of clients to attend these workgroups, any client from around the State can register to attend - at their own or county/agency expense. Registration is not limited. Registration for the Workgroups is available on line at www.dmh.ca.gov, go to MHSA section. Registration is free.

Where to Find Information and Give Input

Anybody can make comments about the Draft Regulations or anything else relating to the MHSA by email or toll free telephone to the CA Department of Mental Health.

E-mail address: MHSA@dmh.ca.gov

Toll free number: 800-972-MHSA (6472)

The Draft "Program and Expenditure Plan Requirements for Mental Health Services Act - Community Services and Supports" can be found on the CA Department of Mental Health Web Site: www.dmh.ca.gov