RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SB 119 (CEDILLO), MEDI-CAL: MINORS: DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, under current law, youth receive a patchwork of drug-related services through Drug Medi-Cal or the federally mandated early, periodic, screening, diagnosis and treatment (EPSTD) program; and

WHEREAS, this patchwork of services provides an inadequate amount of alcohol and other drug services for youth; and

WHEREAS, the Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) found in a 2004 report that, “while children and youth constitute about 23 percent of the caseload, they received only about 6 to 8 percent of the Drug Medi-Cal budget;” and

WHEREAS, San Mateo County has an estimated 4,500 youth (12-17 years of age) that have substance abuse problems warranting treatment. However, the County serves only an estimated 300 youth through the patchwork of funding; and

WHEREAS, SB 119 would expand Drug Medi-Cal services to include various drug-related services for youth (12-20 years of age) to include, in part, residential treatment, family counseling and aftercare services.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors by adoption of this resolution supports SB 119 regarding the expansion of Medi-Cal drug and alcohol treatment to minors.

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