Public Education & Policy :: News Alerts

News Alert, November 2005

The MHSOAC Opens up Committee Membership

The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) was created by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to ensure that services provided pursuant to the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) are cost effective and provided in accordance with recommended best practices subject to local and state oversight. The MHSOAC will ensure accountability to taxpayers and to the public. (from MHSOAC literature.) The MHSOAC is composed of 16 members.

The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) held its first meeting July 7, 2005. Many clients attended as the public, wearing shirts emblazoned with "Nothing About Us Without Us," and expressing our concern that mental health clients were not sufficiently represented on the Commission. Possibly as a way of remedying the oversight of meaningful client representation, the MHSOAC has opened up its standing Committees to non-Commission members.

In the Commission's own words, "This is to the members of the public sitting out there because what we envision is committees composed of 10 to 15 persons, of which, at least two must be consumers and two must be family members." (from September 28, 2005 Commission minutes.) The Co-Chairs are Commission Members.

The Standing Committees established by the MHSOAC are as follows:

1. Prevention/Early Intervention, and Stigma/Discrimination Reduction
1. Researches literature on successful prevention/early intervention/anti-stigma programs
2. Determines nature and scope of prevention/early intervention/anti-stigma activities
3. Sets prevention/early intervention/anti-stigma goals and solicits proposals from counties or regions or statewide
4. Approves, amends or denies proposals.
2. Innovation
1. Investigates innovations in literature
2. Solicits proposals
3. Approves, amends or denies proposals
3. Community Services and Supports
1. Reviews county plans directly, or as referred by staff
2. Can recommend adjustments and/or state approval
3. Can refer to full commission in case of major problems
4. Capital/Improvements/Information Technology
1. Determine feasibility of major capital projects
2. Collaborate with state and other funding agencies to maximize impact of capital dollars
3. Review and advise on County plans for technological needs to provide services.
5. Workforce Development (called Education and Training Program in the MHSA)
1. Collaborate with the Planning Council on workforce development 5 year plan
2. Ensure cultural competency and outreach to underserved groups for recruitment
3. Ensure family/consumer centrality to workforce plans
6. Performance Measurement/Outcomes
1. Participate in state outcome committees
2. Ensure practical, quality of life outcomes

The CNMHC is planning to recommend two or three clients for each of the Committees. If you are interested in being recommended by the CNMHC to serve on any of these Committees, please fill out the enclosed Application of Interest. A sub Committee of the MHSA Client Implementation Team will review the Applications and make selections.

• Your recommendation by the CNMHC does not guarantee a Committee seat. The MHSOAC will make the Committee appointments.
  
  
• You can apply directly to the MHSOAC to serve on a Committee independent of or in addition to applying through the CNMHC. E-mail your interest to: Richard Van Horn at: Richard.vanhorn@dmh.ca.gov.