For immediate release
August 26, 2016
Contact: Jennifer Whitney
916-445-8721
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION APPROVES $7.2 MILLION FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS IN AUGUST
Sacramento—The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission has approved $7.2 million to fund Innovation projects in El Dorado and Nevada Counties. Funded by the Mental Health Services Act, Innovation projects introduce a new mental health practice or approach or make a change to an existing mental health practice or approach. After Innovation projects are completed, they are evaluated to determine whether the innovative approach should be sustained or replicated.
In El Dorado County, two new projects will be funded. The first, Community Based Engagement and Support Services, will increase access to mental health services for families, pregnant women and children through the development of five “hubs” in local libraries. The hubs will offer behavioral health prevention activities such as support groups, education classes, engagement opportunities and mental health screening, including alcohol and drug screening. The second Commission-approved project for that county will reduce the number of days a person must remain in jail in isolation while awaiting trial. There has been a recent uptick in El Dorado County of individuals who have been found incompetent to stand trial, and while waiting for a psychiatric bed, are forced into isolation in the jails for 23 hours a day. This project will provide funds for the County to hire mental health workers to provide services and case management to those individuals. The Commission approved approximately $6.9 million to fund these projects for up to four years.
In Nevada County, the newly approved Innovation project is designed to increase the quality of services by creating a coordinated system of care across two counties in the Tahoe Truckee area (Nevada and Placer). Funding will provide additional hours of operation for the Family Resource Center and will also include the hiring of a case manager and additional training of support staff from both counties. The Commission approved $375,000 to fund this five year project.
For more information on the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and the Mental Health Services Act, visit www.mhsoac.ca.gov.
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