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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO | ||
Inter-Departmental Correspondence | ||
Health Services Agency | ||
DATE: |
November 1, 2002 | |
BOARD MEETING DATE: |
December 3, 2002 | |
TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors | |
FROM: |
Alison Mills, Chair, Mental Health Board | |
Margaret Taylor, Director, Health Services Agency | ||
Gale Bataille, Director, Mental Health Services | ||
SUBJECT: |
Mental Health Board Annual Report to Board of Supervisors | |
Recommendation | ||
Approve the Mental Health Board's Annual Report for 2001-02 | ||
Background | ||
The Mental Health Board (MHB) is mandated by the California Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 5604, to ensure citizen and professional involvement in planning processes regarding the mental health system of care and to advise the Board of Supervisors and the Local Mental Health Director regarding County mental health needs, services, special problems and outcomes of mental health services. The MHB is also required to submit an Annual Report to the Board of Supervisors. | ||
Discussion | ||
The 2001-02 Annual Report presents an overview of the MHB's membership, agendas and program presentations, full Board and committee activities and accomplishments as well as priorities for fiscal year 2002-03. | ||
The MHB consists of 18 members: 15 members are appointed pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 5604; 2 members are Youth Commissioners; and one is Board of Supervisors liaison, Supervisor Rich Gordon. As of October 2002, the MHB has three openings - one direct consumer and two public interest/professional openings. Realignment Legislation of 1991-92 established a requirement that at least 51% of the Board's membership is family members or consumers of mental health services and reflect the County's diverse population. The MHB is required to interview applicants for the MHB and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding appointments. | ||
The MHB addressed all priorities identified for 2001-02, including: participation in the development of the Mental Health Strategic Plan; continuous monitoring of the budget and the impact of State and County cutbacks on mental health services; advocacy for the development of a county-operated youth residential treatment facility; crisis intervention training for law enforcement; and, sponsoring a public forum on the "Crisis in Care and Financing for Services to Individuals with Dementia and Behavioral Disturbances." | ||
MHB priorities for 2002-03 include: continued advocacy for mental health services funding; participation in strategic planning initiatives for children/youth and adults/older adults; development of a public awareness campaign to decrease stigma regarding mental illness; continued collaboration with law enforcement to intervene effectively with people with mental illness; sponsor a public forum on teen depression; and, assure that timely appointments are made to fill MHB vacancies with a priority on increasing the ethnic diversity of the MHB to reflect the diversity of the County's population. | ||
The U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health (May, 2000) and the California Little Hoover Commission's report on Mental Health (November, 2000) both conclude that mental health treatment works, but that less than 50% of mental health needs are addressed. With the current economic downturn, your Board will continue to be faced with tough budgetary decisions. Community mental health services function as a key component of our human service safety net, particularly in times of community crisis and economic uncertainty. The MHB will monitor and continue to advocate for community response capability and, most critically, the continued availability of mental health resources for our most vulnerable and disabled residents. | ||
Vision Alignment | ||
The approval of this report from the MHB keeps the commitment to Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 8: Help vulnerable people-the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth, and others- achieve a better quality of life. This report contributes to this commitment by providing information about the activities and priorities of the MHB. | ||
Fiscal Impact | ||
There is no direct fiscal impact related to the functions of the Mental Health Board. | ||
