Overview
Prop. 63, The Mental Health Services Act, funded by a new tax on high income individuals, is designed to expand and transform California's county mental health service systems. It stipulates that the State Department of Mental Health (SDMH) will contract with County Mental Health Departments to develop and manage the implementation of Prop. 63's provisions. However, it is important to note that in the first year of implementation, no services will be funded. The legislation requires an intensive planning process by each county to develop and submit 3-year plan proposals for executing the purpose and intent of the Act. The State Department of Mental Health intends to assure that county mental health departments expend funds made available through the act towards a state-of-the-art, culturally competent system that promotes recovery/wellness through independence, hope, personal empowerment and resiliency for adults and seniors with severe mental illness and for children with serious emotional disorders and their families.

The first stage of the structured planning process will identify important issues and incorporate a significant level of input from stakeholders, including consumers, families, service providers, etc.

BHCS wants to involve people with mental illness and family caregivers in the planning process. To find our more or to participate, please contact Gary Spicer, MHSA Project Manager for BHCS at 510-567-8122. The Berkeley-Albany City Mental Health Services is also doing Prop 63 planning, contact person is Director Harvey Tureck at 510-981-5213.

Purpose and Intent of Prop 63

To make serious mental illness among seniors, adults and children a priority and promote early intervention and prevention services and medical and supportive care to prevent mental illnesses from becoming severe and disabling.

To reduce the long-term adverse impact on individuals, families and state and local budgets resulting from untreated serious mental illness.

To expand successful, innovative programs that have demonstrated their effectiveness for adults, children and seniors, including culturally and linguistically competent approaches to the under served and others most severely impacted by or at risk of serious mental illness.

To provide state and local funding for services that cannot be paid for with other funds.

To ensure that all funds are expended in the most cost-effective manner and in accordance with recommended best practices subject to local and state oversight and accountability.

The legislation requires an approved 3-year plan and for each of three years allocates:

10% to education and training programs

10% to capital facilities and technological needs

20% to Prevention and Early Intervention programs to prevent mental illness from becoming severe and disabling

5% for Innovative Programs that increase access to services and to under served groups, that promote interagency collaboration, and that increase quality and outcomes of services

The remaining funds are allocated locally to:

- Services for children with severe mental illnesses

- Services to adults and seniors with severe illnesses, such as MIOCR (care management for the mentally ill in the CJ system) and AB2034 (homelessness) and

- A prudent reserve to help maintain new programming in years when certain revenues decline below the average of previous years.

After this 3-year period funding will no longer be prescribed by category, and may be used for:

services to children, adults or older adults

technological needs and capital facilities

human resource needs

a prudent reserve

In order to carry out our mission, MHAAC engages in two broad kinds of activities.

• To provide direct assistance to persons with mental illness and to their families.
• To advocate for improved public policy and to educate the public regarding mental illness.

Please click on the links above to learn more about our programs.