Public Comment Invited on New, Expanded Mental Health Programs in Alameda County

On September 3, 2014, East Alameda County residents will have the opportunity to learn about and comment on a series of proposals for new and expanded mental health programs in Alameda County. Approximately $15 million in Mental Health Services Act funding is set aside for these programs in the current fiscal year.

The public will be invited to comment on the following programs:

• Expand programs integrating primary care with mental health care in East and Central County
• Outreach strategies to engage clients in voluntary mental health services
• Increase voluntary crisis services to reduce the high number of involuntary psychiatric holds (also known as 5150’s)
• Increase the connections between mental health and developmental disabilities services.
• Expand mental health care services into the Early Childhood System of Care
• Provide counseling services based on principles of Trauma Informed Care for those who have lost relatives to suicide or homicide.

Behavioral Health Care Services staff members will present information about these proposed programs and answer questions.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at the Family Education and Resource Center, (FERC), 1453 First Street, Livermore CA 94550.

• To review and comment on the new and expanded MHSA programs included in the FY 14-15 Plan CLICK HERE
• To see all the times and locations where community members can hear about and comment on the FY 14-15 Plan CLICK HERE
• To apply to become a member of the MHSA Stakeholder Group CLICK HERE

This meeting is sponsored by Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services. NAMI Tri-Valley has arranged the meeting in East Alameda County and FERC has provided their Livermore office.

About Mental Health Services Act: In November of 2004, California voters passed Proposition 63/ Mental Health Services Act, an initiative that authorized a 1% tax on personal income over $1 million to expand successful services for “individuals most seriously affected by or at risk of serious mental illness.” For more information go to www.prop63.org