Mental Health Services Act

Approved by California's voters in November 2004 and enacted in January 2005, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) will expand mental health services for children, adults and seniors in the state, using programs that have proven to be effective. By taxing incomes over $1 million at 1 percent, the MHSA will raise up to $800 million or more each year in state funds. With increased federal funds, the amount of new money for care for people with mental illness is expected to exceed $1 billion per year.

This section of the Network of Care site offers information on the MHSA and the planning process for developing community services and support in California counties. It includes the text of the MHSA, materials from the California Department of Mental Health, listings of meetings, links to related sites, articles on recovery-based services, and information about the National Mental Health Association of Greater Los Angeles' consulting and training services related to planning and implementing the MHSA.

MHSA Text

• Mental Health Services Act (Full Text)

California Department of Mental Health Materials

• Attachment A: Purpose of Attached Documents
• Attachment B: DMH Vision Statement
• Attachment C: Required Contents County Requests for Funding for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Planning
• Attachment D: County Readiness Self-assessment for Implementation of the MHSA System of Care Services Component
• Attachment E: Draft Principles for Distribution of MHSA Local Planning Funds
• Attachment F: Workplan Components
• Planning Policy Letter 1/18/05
  • Attachment A: Required Contents County Funding Requests for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Community Program Planning
  • Attachment B: Requirements for MHSA Funding for Community Program Planning
  • Attachment C: Instructions for Preparing the Fiscal Year 2004-05 Mental Health Services Act Community Program Planning Budget and Narrative
  • Encl: County Operations North and South Regional Listing

Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Brochures

• MHSA Guide Brochure

Meetings

• Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) December 17 Stakeholders Meeting Agenda
• Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) December 17 Stakeholders Meeting Overview

Prevention and Early Intervention

• PEI Newsletter March 24, 2008

Links

• California Department of Mental Health
• California Institute for Mental Health
• California Mental Health Master Plan - A Vision for California

Articles

"Proposition 63 Begins: An Implementation Toolbox" is a collection of articles by Mark Ragins, M.D., medical director of the MHA Village, a program of the National Mental Health Association of Los Angeles County (MHA). Dr. Mark's collection of articles covers topics such as planning a recovery-based system and defining a recovery culture. He includes "A Guide for Recovery Oriented Leaders" and "A Recovery-Based Program Inventory."

The collection is available for free download. (Note: This is in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, click here to download it for free.)

Consulting and Training Services

The National Mental Health Association of Greater Los Angeles(MHA) has designed training and consulting services to help counties plan and implement recovery-based systems. MHA's services include creating a recovery-oriented focus for planning with stakeholders: training in recovery beliefs and how to use them in the planning process; developing a plan that emphasizes outcomes as an integral part of the system; designing an integrated services, recovery-based system; and training in designing, implementing and supporting consumer-run services.

Click here for our training and consultation menu of options.

For more information on training and consultation, please contact Dave Pilon, Ph.D, at 888-242-2522, ext 249.