Agenda

Return

C. 56

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	January 20, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Referral to Internal Operations Committee

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/20/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Dorothy Sansoe, 925-335-1009

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: January 20, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

REFER to the Internal Operations Committee a review of the process used by the Health Services Department for the recommendation, review and monitoring of the Mental Health Services Act budget.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND:

The California Department of Mental Health mandates that a community program planning process serve as the basis for all Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) planning. In Contra Costa County, the Consolidated Planning Advisory Workgroup (CPAW) serves in this capacity, assisting the Mental Health Division with integrated planning, increasing the transparency of MHSA efforts, and advising the Mental Health Division on how to integrate MHSA principles and practices. CPAW gives a variety of members from the mental health community an opportunity to provide input for system growth and change.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Welfare and Institutions Code section 5848 states: "Each plan and plan update shall be developed with local stakeholders, including adults and seniors with severe mental illness, families of children, adults, and seniors with severe mental illness, providers of mental health services, law enforcement agencies, education, social service agencies, veterans, representatives from veteran's organizations, and other important interests" (emphasis added).

Additionally, The California Code of Regulations, Title 9, Chapter 14, Section 3200.270 states: "'Stakeholders means individuals or entities with an interest in mental health services in the State of California, including but not limited to: individuals with serious mental illness and/or serious emotional disturbance and/or their families; providers of mental health and/or related services such as physical health care and/or social services; educators and/or representatives of education; representatives of law enforcement; and any other organization that represents the interests of individuals with serious mental illness and/or serious emotional disturbance and/or their families".

It is important to note that CPAW is not an advisory board, committee or commission to the Board of Supervisors. It is a workgroup established under State statute to advise County Mental Health staff, not the County Board of Supervisors. It is not required to function under the Brown Act or Better Government Ordinance, although all of its meetings are publicly noticed and the public are invited to attend.

The Mental Health Commission is an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors and is required under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5600. As a legislatively created advisory body the Commission must follow the Ralph M. Brown Act and the County Better Government Ordinance., It has been suggested that the Commission take on the role currently performed by CPAW with regards to making recommendations, reviewing and monitoring the MHSA budget. Many other counties use their local mental health commission to perform the duties under the MHSA that are performed by CPAW in Contra Costa County.

This referral should include a review of potential conflicts of interest for the members of CPAW who are contractors receiving funding through the MHSA budget.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

A review of the responsibilities of the Consolidated Planning Advisory Workgroup and the Mental Health Commission will not be undertaken.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.