On January 1, 2023, the California State Legislature amended Section 5604 of the Welfare and Institutions Code relating to local mental health boards to require at least one member of the board to be a veteran or veteran advocate in counties with a population of 100,000 or more. The Yolo County Local Mental Health Board supports the wellness, recovery, and resilience of all Yolo County residents through the identification of local mental health assets and needs, informed advocacy and education and collaboration with policymakers, service providers, consumers, and family members. As the Legislature recognized in amending Section 5604, including veterans on a local mental health board is crucial as they bring unique perspectives and experiences, particularly in dealing with trauma and stress related to military service. Their presence on the Local Mental Health Board ensures representation of the veteran community, fostering trust and encouraging veterans to seek mental health services.
For these reasons, and to ensure the County Code properly complies with state law on local mental health board membership, staff is recommending that the Board adopt the attached proposed ordinance amendments to the Yolo County Code (Title 2, Chapter 2) which would require at least one member of the Yolo County Local Mental Health Board to be a veteran or veteran advocate. If the Board approves the recommended actions, the ordinance will return for final consideration at the next regularly scheduled public meeting.
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