Background on Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)
Proposition 63 (known as the Mental Health Services Act, or MHSA) passed in 2004. MHSA established a 1% increase in individual income taxes for Californians earning over $1 million per year, with the revenue to be used to fund the transformation of public mental health services throughout the state. These funds were divided by formula and allocated to county mental health agencies by the CA Department of Mental Health (DMH), which until recently held primary responsibility for the approval of each county's MHSA Program and Expenditure Plan, annual updates thereto, and the distribution of MHSA funds. MHSA is now overseen by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC).
MHSA Community Program Planning for Fiscal Year 2018-19
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) began the Community Program Planning process for its FY 2018-19 MHSA Annual Update in September 2017. HHSA contracted with Resource Development Associates (RDA) to manage the Community Program Planning activities.
In accordance with State law, the Yolo County MHSA Annual Update process included seeking input from consumers of mental health services, families and other community members, the Behavioral Health Provider Stakeholder Work Group, MHSA Stakeholder Meeting attendees and Local Mental Health Board members. In total, 104 individuals participated in these activities to inform the Update.
Following the initial period of community input for the Annual Update, summary documents were compiled and reviewed with community stakeholders according to the process required by State law. The draft Update for FY 2018-19 underwent a 30-day public review process between January 19, 2018 and February 20, 2018, during which the draft Update was posted on the Internet, with copies in all local libraries, mental health centers, and key administrative locations throughout the county. Public notices were widely posted throughout the county. On March 21, 2018, after completion of the Public Review and Comment Period, a Public Hearing was held at the Bauer Building in Woodland, facilitated by Local Mental Health Board Chairman James Glica-Hernandez. All public comments and HHSA responses were incorporated into the MHSA Annual Update.
On Monday, February 26, 2018, the draft Annual Update was shared with the Yolo County Local Mental Health Board, which unanimously voted to recommend the final draft be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval at its next regular meeting, on March 20, 2018.
The MHSA Plan Update for FY 2018-19 (Attachment A) reflects on the successes and challenges of program implementation as well as provides an opportunity to project future program changes, challenges/barriers, and activities set to occur in FY 2018-19, for all programs included in the Three Year Program and Expenditure Plan FY 2017-2020. The Three Year Plan was approved by the Board on April 4, 2017, and there are no expected changes to MHSA programs for fiscal year 2018-19. |