Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)

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What is MHSA?

In 2004, voters passed Proposition 63 now known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) which places a 1% tax on people making more than 1 million dollars a year.

In the mid 1900’s, the state of California made cuts to services in state hospitals for people with serious mental illnesses but did not provide adequate funding for community-based mental health services. Also, cuts to federal Medicaid (Medi-Cal) during the 1980s further devastated the public mental health system. These cuts prevented tens of thousands of Californians from accessing much-needed mental health care, which led to increased homelessness, hospitalizations, and incarceration.

MHSA is meant to address the gap in services. Every year millions of people in California are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses. Therefore, MHSA aims to expand and transform the mental health system in California to provide a better coordinated and more comprehensive system of care for those with serious mental illness and to define an approach which we shape as a county.

Madera County Behavioral Health MHSA Plan 2023-2026

The Community Program Planning Process (CPPP) helps BHS to develop a new 3-Year Program, Expenditure Plans, and Updates in collaboration with stakeholders to:

Identify issues in the community related to mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse conditions stemming from a lack of supports and community resources;

Examine the mental health and/or co-occurring substance abuse needs of the community;

Identify strategies to meet those mental health and/or co-occurring substance abuse needs; and
Re-evaluate priorities

MHSA 30-Day Notice Public Hearing - Final

MHSA 30-DAY Public Comment Form - Final_

Spanish 30-day Public Comment Form Final

Spanish MHSA 30-Day Notice of Public Hearing

Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA)

The Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) establishes partnerships between county mental health agencies, local education agencies, and community-based organizations to expand school-based mental health services to young people and their families.

MHSAA1

In Madera County, a collaborative partnership between Madera County Behavioral Health Services, Madera County Superintendent of Schools, and Camarena Health has been established with the following goals in mind:

Prevent mental illness from becoming severe and disabling
Improve timely access to services for the underserved
Outreach to families, employers, primary care providers, and others to recognize early signs of potentially severe and disabling mental illnesses
Reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
Reduce discrimination against those with mental illness
Prevent negative outcomes in the targeted population.

To learn more about the Mental Health Student Services Act, visit the Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission's Student Mental Health page.

To learn more about our partner, Camarena Health, and their services through MHSAA, visit their Reducing the Stigma of Mental Health page.

Become a Peer Support Specialist- Scholarships are available

The California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) is invested in supporting workforce and development in the public behavioral health system. Madera County is identifying individuals for a scholarship opportunity for certification for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists. The scholarship covers all application, training, and exam costs. For individuals seeking certification through the grandparenting process, the scholarship covers costs for application and examination.

Contact Division Manager, Eva Weikel, at (559) 395-0451or at 209 E. 7th Street Madera Ca 93638 for more information.

Read the Requirements and Process details PDF.

VIEW THE MADERA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES MHSA ANNUAL UPDATE FOR FY 2025-2026

MHSA 30 Day Notice Public Hearing

MHSA 30 Day Public Comment

Avizo de 30 Días para Proveer Comentarios

Formulario de comentarios públicos de 30 días sobre el Plan de Servicios de Salud Mental (MHSA)

View the Madera County

Department of Behavioral Health Services, Mental Health Services Act Annual Plan Update for FY 2023-2026

The Stakeholder Role

MHSA is meant to have meaningful stakeholder involvement on all aspects, from mental health policy, program planning, implementation, monitoring, quality improvement, evaluation, and budget allocation.

Here in Madera County, we have the Community Program Planning Process (CPPP) in which we give a presentation on our services and survey the community to collect feedback. We are currently revamping our process and in need of community members just like you!

MHSA values MHSA services/ components:

Community Services & Supports (CSS): Outreach and direct services for children, transition age youth (TAY), adults and older adults with the most serious mental health needs.

Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI): Prevention services to promote wellness and prevent the development of mental health problems and early intervention services to screen and intervene in early signs of mental health issues.

Capital Facilities & Technological Needs (CFTN): Infrastructure development to support the implementation of the technological infrastructure and appropriate facilities to provide mental health services.

Workforce Education & Training (WET): Support to build, retain, and train a competent public mental health workforce.

Innovation (INN): New approaches that may improve access, collaboration, and/or service outcomes for all mental health consumers, with a focus on unserved, underserved, and inappropriately served populations.