Who is Who and What Do They Do?!
Below you can find a brief description of the agencies and positions that create, oversee, and monitor mental health policy in California at the state and local level. Much of this is taken directly from their websites, and we urge you to visit their sites directly for additional information.
State Level
The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)
The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is an Independent Administrative and Fiscal Governments Agency focused on the efficient delivery of California Mental Health Projects. Member counties jointly develop, fund, and implement mental health services, projects, and educational programs at the state, regional, and local levels. CalMHSA is not a legislative agency; nor are we an approval or advocacy body. We are a best practice intergovernmental structure with growing capacity and capability to promote systems and services arising from a shared member commitment to community mental health.
California Department of Mental Health (DMH)
The California Department of Mental Health (DMH), entrusted with leadership of the California mental health system, ensures through partnerships the availability and accessibility of effective, efficient, culturally competent services. This is accomplished by advocacy, education, innovation, outreach, understanding, oversight, monitoring, quality improvement, and the provision of direct services.
The California Department of Mental Health, located in Sacramento, has oversight of a public mental health budget of more than $4 billion, including local assistance funding. Its responsibilities include:
- Providing leadership for local county mental health departments;
- Evaluation and monitoring of public mental health programs;
- Administration of federal funds for mental health programs and services;
- The care and treatment of people with mental illness at the five state mental hospitals (Atascadero, Metropolitan, Napa, Coalinga and Patton State Hospitals) and at the Acute Psychiatric Programs located at the California Medical Facilities in Vacaville and Salinas Valley; and
- Implementation of the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63), which provides state tax dollars for specific county mental health programs and services.
California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA)
The California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA) is a non profit advocacy association representing the mental health directors from each of California's 58 counties, as well as two cities (Berkeley and Tri-City). The Association's mission is to provide leadership, advocacy, expertise and support to California's county and city mental health programs (and their system partners) that will assist them in serving persons with serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance. Our goal is to assist in building a public mental health system that ensures the accessibility of quality, cost-effective mental health care that is consumer-and family-driven, resiliency-based and culturally competent.
The mission of the California Mental Health Directors Association is to provide leadership, advocacy, expertise and support to California's county and city mental health programs (and their system partners) that will assist them in promoting the recovery of persons with serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance. Our goal is to assist in building a public mental health system that ensures the accessibility of quality, cost-effective mental health care. CMHDA will advocate for equity and full inclusion of vulnerable populations and secure social justice as measured by access to necessary quality services that promote mental health, wellness, resiliency and recovery in our communities.
California Mental Health Planning Council (CMHPC)
www.dmh.ca.gov/Mental_Health_Planning_Council
The Planning Council is mandated in state law to provide oversight of the public mental health system, to advocate for adults and older adults with serious mental illnesses and children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families, and to make recommendations regarding mental health policy development and priorities. Pursuant to the Mental Health Services Act, the Planning Council advises the Department of Mental Health on education and training policy development and provides oversight of the Department's education and training plan development. The Planning Council also must review and approve each Five-Year Education and Training Plan.
The Planning Council is an invaluable instrument for public involvement in mental health planning and policy development. It has been particularly effective as a vehicle for the direct involvement of consumers and family members in statewide policy development. In addition to the federal planning duties, state law mandates additional responsibilities and duties that include:
- Advocate for effective, quality mental health programs
- Review, assess, and make recommendations regarding all components of the mental health system
- Review and approve performance indicators
- Review and report annually on the performance of local mental health programs based on data from performance indicators
- Advise the Legislature, Department of Mental Health, and county boards on mental health issues and the policies and priorities that this state should be pursuing
- Make recommendations to the Department on awarding grants to county programs to reward and stimulate innovation
- Periodically review the State's data systems and paperwork requirements to ensure they are reasonable
- Conduct public hearings on the State mental health plan, Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, and on other topics as needed
- Participate in recruitment of candidates for Director of Mental Health
- Advise the Director on the development of the State mental health plan and its priorities
- Assist in the coordination of training and information to local mental health boards
- Mediate disputes between the State and counties when requested
- Accept federal or private grants and donations
Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC)
The MHSOAC provides the vision and leadership, in collaboration with clients, their family members and underserved communities, to ensure an enhanced continuum of care for individuals at risk for and living with serious mental illness and their families by holding public systems accountable and by providing oversight, eliminating disparities, promoting mental wellness, supporting recovery and resiliency resulting in positive outcomes in California's community based mental health system.
Local/County
Mental Health Board/Commissions
The local MHB/C is a citizen board mandated by State law. Members are appointed to the Board by the local county governing body (referred to in this document as the Board of Supervisors (BOS). MHB/Cs are advisory to both the BOS and the local mental health director as to any aspect of the local mental health program. MHB/Cs:
- Oversee and monitor the local mental health system
- Advocate for individuals with serious mental illness
- Provide advice to the BOS and the local mental health director
The ultimate goal of MHB/Cs is to ensure the development of improved services, access to services and the best mental health program possible.
County boards and commissions are designed to encourage citizen involvement, expertise and advice to assist local governing bodies in serving the community. They are the community's “voice” in government and serve as a communication channel between government and local citizens. Local governing bodies and local programs rely on them to advise them on a wide range of issues of interest to their constituencies and to assure that they are responsive to community needs. Effective citizen boards can provide insights and energy essential for creating better programs and services. They help make important decisions, bring expertise and resources needed to address problems and provide a valuable link to public and private groups and organizations as well as local government.
County MHSA Decision Makers and Advocacy Partners
County Mental Health Director
The local mental health director:
- Serves as chief executive officer of the community mental health service
- Supervises mental health services
- Recommends (to the governing body) the provision of services, establishment of facilities, contracting for services or facilities, after consultation with the advisory board
- Submits an annual report to the governing body comprising activities, financial accounting and a forecast of anticipated needs
- Carries on studies appropriate for the discharge of his or her duties, including the control and prevention of mental disorders
- Possesses authority to enter into negotiations for contracts or agreements to provide mental health services in the county
MHSA Coordinators
MHSA Coordinators are very specialized according to their county, so each job looks different to meet the county needs. They are responsible for all steps of plan development and implementation at the county level. It is their job to work with community organizations, the county, and to engage their local stakeholders in an inclusive and representative planning process. They are the county point-person for all things MHSA, and a good person to know as an advocate at the county level.
Sometimes the MHSA Coordinator will have a TAY Coordinator who is responsible for engaging the TAY community and including them in the stakeholder process. If your county has one this is a great way to get involved in community planning and implementation!
Ethnic Service Managers (ESM)
The Ethnic Services Manager is responsible for ensuring that counties meet cultural and linguistic competence standards in the delivery of community based mental health services. They function as the liaison between the county and the key cultural groups in their communities. ESMs also often work with the TAY in their community to make sure that they are engaged in the community planning and implementation process. TAY is sometimes considered a “youth culture” and so falls into the category of “cultural competence.”