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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO | ||
Inter-Departmental Correspondence | ||
Health Services Agency | ||
DATE: |
September 16, 2004 | |
BOARD MEETING DATE: |
October 5, 2004 | |
TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors | |
FROM: |
Alison Mills, Chair, Mental Health Board | |
Charlene Silva, Director, Health Services Agency | ||
Gale Bataille, Director, Mental Health Services | ||
SUBJECT: |
Mental Health Board Annual Report to Board of Supervisors | |
Recommendation | ||
Accept the Mental Health Board’s Annual Report for FY 2003-04 | ||
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 2003-04 Annual Report presents an overview of the MHB’s membership, agendas and program presentations, activities and accomplishments, as well as priorities for fiscal year 2004-05. | ||
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. Realignment Legislation of 1991-92 established a requirement that at least 50% of the appointed members shall be consumers or the parents, spouses, siblings, or adult children of consumers, who are receiving or have received mental health services, and reflect the County’s diverse population. All members are voting members. The MHB is required to interview applicants for the board and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding appointments. | ||
The MHB addressed all priorities identified for 2003-04, including ensuring Mental Health Board effectiveness by holding an educational retreat in February, staying focused on sustaining and/or improving the quality of mental health services, sponsoring a public forum on “Wellness & Recovery,” and continuing to monitor and participate in the Mental Health Services strategic planning and budget processes. | ||
MHB priorities for 2004-05 include: continuing to advocate for adequate funding and resources to serve San Mateo County residents with serious mental illness/emotional disturbance; continuing to monitor program performance and client/staff satisfaction outcomes; partnering with Mental Health staff, contract providers, consumers and family members to develop effective evidence-based and culturally sensitive services as outlined in the 2002 Mental Health Strategic Plan; participating in initiatives that promote wellness and recovery for all consumers; and, sponsoring a 5th annual mental health forum. | ||
The World Health Organization’s “Global Burden of Disease” study found that mental illness accounts for over 15% of the economic burden of disease in advanced market economies (including the United States): a greater “disease burden” than all cancers combined (NIMH Fact Sheet 2001). The U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health (2000) and the President’s Commission on Mental Health (2003) conclude that mental health treatment works, but that the systems of services necessary to treat and support persons with mental illness are both fragmented and able to address less than 50% of mental health needs. At a local level, even though our fabric of services is stretched thin, community mental health services function as a key component of our human service safety net, particularly in times of community crisis and economic stress. | ||
The MHB appreciates the long-term leadership and commitment of the San Mateo Board of Supervisors to sustaining vital mental health services. The MHB will continue to support this commitment through advocating for effective comprehensive services 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. | ||
