Mental Health Services - Oversight And Accountability Commision

Right Column

Archived Highlights Articles from MHSOAC Homepage

The MHSOAC is currently accepting artwork and writing produced by consumers in recovery, family members, and the mental health stakeholders’ community at large to be featured in our special edition newsletter, MHSOAC Expressions, as well as future issues of the MHSOAC newsletter, MHSOAC Update, and public view on the MHSOAC Website.

Please submit your artwork, short stories, and poems before July 6, 2012 to be considered for inclusion.  We encourage all themes and topics, but especially those with themes of: wellness, recovery, and personal experiences or triumphs as related to mental health.

For submission and consent forms or further information please see our Call for Arts and Writings Flyer.

 

You are Invited to Participate in a Statewide Evaluation of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) The MHSOAC has contracted with UCLA to conduct a statewide evaluation of the MHSA.  As a part of the evaluation, UCLA will be administering a survey to be completed by adult consumers, parents of child consumers, or other family or non-family member representatives.  The survey will ask questions about consumers’ experiences with crisis interventions, peer/family support programs, and employment services in the public mental health system. The survey is available in both English and Spanish. The survey is available at:  http://www.healthychild.ucla.edu/StatewideSurvey/

Please Note: UCLA will be accepting surveys from mid-April through May 25th.
If you have any further questions about this study, please contact Todd Sosna at todd.sosna@gmail.com or (805) 452-1010.

MHSOAC Community Forum on the MHSA

The San Diego Community Forum will now be held on June 6, 2012 from 2:30 to 6:00 pm. The specific location will be announced soon.

San Diego Community Forum on the MHSA will be held on
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 from 2:30 to 6:00 pm at the Hilton San Diego Mission Valley.

Community Forum Summaries

The Modesto Community Forum summary from December 8, 2011 is now available. The Roseville and San Francisco Community Forum summaries from April 26 and September 27th, respectively, have also been completed. These three community forum summaries precede a final report which will be available in February.

Logic Model and Principles Paper

A number of recent actions by the Legislature and Governor invite a conversation among the Commissioners regarding how the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s (MHSOAC) oversight role changed and critical mental health functions that should be maintained in a changing mental health environment.
 

On March 24, 2011, Governor Brown assigned Assembly Bill 100 (AB 100) into law, making a number of changes to the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), including the elimination of review and approval of county MHSA plans by the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the MHSOAC.  AB 100 also contained Legislative intent language specifying that it was the Legislature’s intent to ensure continued state oversight and accountability of the MHSA.  It is AB 100’s intent that the state, in consultation with the MHSOAC, establish a more effective means of ensuring county performance complies with the MHSA.

The following documents were created to guide the Commission and MHSOAC staff in its work and priorities:

Report on MHSA Housing Program

The Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes released a report on August 11, 2011, “Housing the Mentally Ill and Chronically Homeless:  An Effective Solution, but Counties Need Greater Flexibility.”  Click here to view the report or visit the SOOO website at www.sen.ca.gov/oversight.

PEI Trends Report Update

The original PEI Trends Report, published in December 2009, surveyed 223 programs in 32 approved county PEI work plans. MHSOAC has updated the original report to include all California counties and 485 programs. The updated PEI Trends Report was given to the MHSOAC on May 26, 2011 and is available here.

California Mental Health Services Act: Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Clearinghouse

Research shows that mental health prevention and early intervention works. The MHSA makes it possible for these findings to become reality for Californians who might otherwise suffer significant disruption in their lives. The Prevention and Early Intervention Clearinghouse was developed as a one-stop-shop for mental health consumers, families and providers. Click on this California Institute for Mental Health (CiMH) link below for resources that promote wellness and resiliency for all Californians. http://www.preventionearlyintervention.org/go/

MHSOAC First Report to the Governor and Legislature

The MHSOAC is announcing its First Report to the Governor and Legislature. Primer Informe al Gobernador y a la Legislatura.

Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI)

57 counties plus the Tri-City Area and the City of Berkeley have submitted PEI plans and all have been approved. Click here to read more about PEI and see county plans

Innovation (INN)

As of November 2010, the MHSOAC has approved 28 Innovation (INN) plans for 26 counties for a total of $108,357,624 in approved INN funds. Click here to see more on the Innovation component as well as the county plans.

 

For more information on all 5 of the MHSA components, click here.

MHSA Fast Facts

Proposition 63 avoids more costly services for state and county governments by reducing homelessness, emergency medical care, long term nursing home care, unemployment, hospitalization, and incarceration.

Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) services, funded by MHSA dollars, are designed to prevent mental illness and emotional disturbance from becoming severe, disabling and costly to individuals, families, communities and the State.

In FY 2011/12 Counties will receive less funding per capita for community mental health than they received in FY 2004/05 per capita, while service mandates and expectations have increased.

For more Fast Facts on the MHSA and related programs, click here to view and download our MHSA Fast Fact Sheets.

MHSA at Five Years

Watch our video marking the first five years of the Mental Health Services Act.

Mental Health Services Act - Información en Español