The Mental Health Services Act became law in California

Solano County Health and Social Services The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Briefing Paper April 2005 The Mental Health Services Act became law in California on January1, 2005. It is designed to provide new resources for mental health services expansion. FUNDING  1% personal income tax surcharge will be deposited into a new State Mental Health Services Fund, which is not subject to state budget decisions.  Expected Revenues Statewide: Approximately $800 million annually  No reductions of current State allocation or cost/risk share agreements  The Department of Mental Health (DMH) has elected to release the funds in stages, based on the categories of services defined in the legislation and described below: TARGETED SERVICES  Expand existing systems of care for adults and children (Community Services and Supports) These are the first funds available and Solano’s current community planning process is focused on the best use of these funds for the next three years. For this category of funds, the legislation requires that counties fund services that will mitigate homelessness, inability to work, isolation, involuntary care, institutionalization and jail for the adult mentally ill population. For children and youth, services must mitigate children’s hospitalization, out of home placement, juvenile justice system involvement, and inability to be in normal school environments. A broad based community planning process, beginning with consumers and family members of consumers, must determine priority needs and services in these categories.  New Prevention and early intervention This category of funds is focused on outreach through employers, primary care doctors; activities to improve access; activities that will reduce stigma and discrimination. These funds are not yet available to Counties  Innovation This category of funds is focused on activities that will increase access overall and particularly for underserved populations; activities that increase interagency collaboration, and activities that improve quality of services and patient outcomes. These funds are not yet available to Counties  Workforce enhancement Local areas will identify needs for personnel in all Mental Health professional categories to meet current and expanded service needs. DMH will develop stipends, loan forgiveness; scholarships etc. These funds are not yet available to Counties  Capital facilities and technology Particularly interested in buildings, data systems. These funds are not yet available to Counties Created April 5, 2005 /mjo 1 Solano County Health and Social Services The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Briefing Paper April 2005 ALLOCATION PERCENTAGES STATEWIDE FY 05-08 Approximate annual revenues and percent distribution Statewide 1. Expand existing systems of care 55% for adults and children $440,000,000 annually 2. New Prevention intervention 3. Innovation and early 20% $160,000,000 annually 5% $40,000,000 annually 10% $80,000,000 annually 10% $80,000,000 annually Service Area 4. Workforce enhancement 5. Capital facilities and technology PRINCIPLES FOR COUNTY ALLOCATIONS Specific County planning estimates from DMH will be provided by May 1, 2005. Rules regarding supplanting funds are pending final legal review by DMH and will be available soon For initial allocations to counties, DMH will consider the need for mental health services in each county based on prevalence of mental illness, degree of poverty, incidence of uninsured persons, available resources provided either by or through the Department of Mental Health to each county in FY 2003-04. Future allocations will include performance-based criteria ACQUIRING THE FUNDS Each county must hold community discussions and meetings to determine what services are needed for people with mental illness to stay healthy and well. Critical partners such as law enforcement, schools, Child Welfare, Substance Abuse, physicians and hospitals, will participate in planning for new services based on these needs. Solano County hopes that these partners continue to participate in ensuring that outcomes are met, and services are adjusted according to changing community conditions. Based on community priorities, HSS will develop a proposal for new MHSA- funded services, and will provide a 30-day comment period on the proposal. The Local Mental Health Board will conduct a public hearing on the plan, probably as part of presentation to the County Board of Supervisors. Created April 5, 2005 /mjo 2 Solano County Health and Social Services The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Briefing Paper April 2005 SOLANO’S TIMELINES INITIAL RAPID ASSESSMENT PERIOD March 2005-September 2005: Engage the Solano community in a conversation about mental health services, unmet needs, and priority populations. Conduct at least 25 focus groups with consumers and families, collect at least 300 consumer surveys; survey at least 200 community partners and service providers; hold community forums in each region of Solano County, convene various stakeholder meetings; ensure engagement of Local Mental Health Board convene Steering Committee IMPLEMENT STRUCTURES FOR ONGOING SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEADERSHIP: August 2005- August 2008 HSS intends to build a mental health system that is state-of-the art, outcome driven, culturally competent, and recovery focused. This will require both a commitment of the Department across Divisions, but more importantly it will require a sustained effort by consumers, family members, law enforcement, education, direct service providers and community leaders to provide leadership and focus resources toward this vision. We expect significant consumer and community involvement as we:  Develop and monitor client outcomes;  Design and build state of the art assessment and triage points throughout the county  Increase the focus on culturally competent services designed to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in services;  Ensure ongoing authentic consumer and family involvement  Meet stringent Quality Assurance and compliance regulations  Implement a plan for ongoing community assessment to anticipate changing client needs EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURES FOR SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEADERSHIP: RE-TOOL AS NEEDED Ongoing FOR MORE INFORMATION:  TO SCHEDULE A FOCUS GROUP OR PRESENTATION  TO LEARN ABOUT UPCOMING PLANNING MEETINGS Call Marcia Jo, HSS Special Projects 707-784-8406 Or visit the Mental Health tab at the www.solanocounty.com website Or visit Department Mental Health Website www.dmh.ca.gov/MHSA/default.asp Created April 5, 2005 /mjo 3