270325 Developing a Comprehensive Mental Health Prevention Initiative in California

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Wayne Clark, PhD , Behavioral Health Department, Monterey County, Salinas, CA
  
     
In 2004 California voters passed Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which supports strategies to build a mental health system of prevention, wellness and recovery, and equity for California's diverse populations. The MHSA dedicated $160 million in funds for a comprehensive statewide mental health prevention initiative. These funds are being administered through an innovative organizational arrangement, a Joint Powers Authority, which established the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA). This structure allows the counties in California, which provide local services, to also join forces in a statewide effort focused on three strategic areas: reduction of stigma and discrimination, suicide prevention, and student mental health. Twenty-five program partners were contracted to implement various components of the initiative. Planning, implementation, and evaluation all include the participation from the counties and other key stakeholders.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health administration or related administration

Learning Objectives:
Describe the role of the California Mental Health Services Authority in administering the stigma and discrimination reduction, suicide prevention, and student mental health statewide initiatives Describe the value of community input in program design and implementation statewide

Keywords: Public Mental Health, Mental Health System

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Clark holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and has served for the last 11 years as Director of the Behavioral Health Bureau of the Monterey County Health Department. Dr. Clark has been Principal Investigator and co-researcher on 15 state and federal Health and Human Services (HHS) program and service grants. Areas of investigation have included prevention approaches to HIV in high risk populations, public policy analysis, and prevention interventions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3055.0: Resiliency and Wellness Strategies for Individuals Living with Mental Illness