Mental Health Services Act. Proposition 63 Initiative was passed by the California Voters in November 2004.  The MHSA imposes a 1% tax on individuals with income exceeding one million dollars.  It provides increased funding, personnel and resources to assist county Mental Health programs deliver recovery, wellness and resilience-oriented services and supports.  There are five major components of MHSA:  (1)  Community Services and Supports (CSS), (2)  Workforce Education and Training, (3) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI), (4) Capital Facilities and Technology, and (5) Innovation.  To review MHSA component projects, click the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) navigation link.

You may contact Riverside County
MHSA Administration by mail at: 
Riverside County Department of Mental Health,
Attn:  MHSA Administration
PO Box 7549, Riverside, CA 92513
or by phone at: 800-479-4800
or via e-mail at:  MHSA@rcmhd.org
 

Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Statewide Projects
In January and September of 2007, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (OAC) approved five PEI Statewide Projects.  In May of 2008, the OAC determined that three of these projects would be most effectively implemented through a single administrative entity.  The State Department of Mental Health (DMH) agreed to administer these projects but could only do so if each county “assigned” the funds designated for those projects to DMH.  Just to clarify, these funds are separate from the local Riverside County PEI funding.  This funding is to be used at the statewide level and will not impact local PEI funds.  Riverside was allocated $8.8 million ($2.2 for each year for 4 years) as their portion of the statewide funds.

These statewide projects are:
 
1. Suicide Prevention
2. Student Mental Health Initiative
3. Stigma and Discrimination Reduction

It was intended that these statewide PEI Projects would be developed and implemented with involvement of the County Mental Health Directors, the California Mental Health Director’s Association, OAC staff and other diverse stakeholders throughout California.  In late 2008, DMH announced they did not have the authority to require counties to assign the statewide funds back to DMH and the mechanism for counties to access the funds had not been determined.

During this time, several counties partnered to form a single administrative entity in the form of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), which was subsequently named the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA).  One of the goals of the CalMHSA is to administer the Statewide PEI projects to achieve the ‘statewideness’ as originally intended.  In order for this to occur, a mechanism for counties to assign their funds to CalMHSA had to be established. 

Since the initial Information Notice was issued, there have been two more DMH Information Notices issued which identified additional mechanisms for administration of these funds.  There are now the following three options:

1. County may act jointly with one or more other counties to implement a statewide program through CalMHSA, a Joint Powers Authority (JPA).
2. County may act jointly with one or more other counties to implement a statewide and/or a regional replicable program through a multi-county collaborative.
3. County may assign funds to DMH to implement a statewide program.

Per DMH Info Notice No. 10-15, Assignment of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Funds for PEI Statewide Programs, the Department intends to assign the funds to DMH for the purpose of entering into contractual agreement with CalMHSA (JPA).  See attached Supplemental MHSA PEI Statewide Programs Assignment Agreement, Enclosure 1, for the details.  Please use the Feedback Form to provide comments and responses.  The public review and comment period will end on Wednesday, August 18, 2010.  Posted 7/19/10

MHSA Supportive Housing Projects
The Department of Mental Health is planning to apply for MHSA housing funds in connection with the development of up to 15 units of MHSA supportive housing located within an affordable housing project.

The name of the project is Legacy, a multi-family affordable housing project located in Thousand Palms, which is in the unincorporated area of Riverside County.  Legacy will contain up to 15 supportive housing units for TAY, adults and older adults.  It is being developed by Palm Desert Development Company.   A Development Description and Supportive Services Chart have been prepared in connection with this project.
 
The development of the proposed supportive housing units at Legacy is consistent with the Riverside County Department of Mental Health CSS Plan .

The Department of Mental Health is seeking public input and feedback regarding the proposed Legacy project.  Please use the feedback form to provide comments and responses.  Click the link for the Legacy Feedback Form .  The public comment and review period for Legacy will end on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at midnight.  Posted June 3, 2010 
 

MHSA Innovation Component Project
On January 30, 2009, the State Department of Mental Health released the Guidelines for the final MHSA Component - Innovation.  The Innovation Component allows Counties the opportunity to “tryout” new approaches that can inform current and future mental health practices/approaches.

The Innovation Guidelines allow counties to apply for funds on a project-by-project basis without submitting a plan for the entire planning estimate.  Throughout all of our current planning processes, consumer-operated services, peer-to-peer supports, and services being delivered in non-traditional setting surfaced as main themes.

This is the second phase of planning around Innovation, as Riverside County previously submitted, and was approved, for a Recovery Arts Core Innovation Project in September 2009.  Riverside County is now proposing to fund a Recovery Learning Center (RLC) through the Innovation Component, while continuing to facilitate a Stakeholder Process on recommended uses for the remaining funds.  The RLC will offer Riverside County consumers a new choice: a mental health services delivery model designed with consumer staff delivering services as the center of the delivery model. 

The Department is requesting a total of $7.8 million for a three-year pilot Recovery Learning Center program.  Click on the link for the Recovery Learning Center Project Description and Feedback Form.   Posted June 3, 2010

Spanish Recovery Learning Center Project Description and Spanish Feedback Form.