Title
Approve the "Rainbow Connections" Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation Plan.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors:
Approve the "Rainbow Connections" Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation Plan.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Mental Health Services Act ("MHSA"), formerly known as Proposition 63, was approved by California voters in 2004 and is funded by a 1% sales tax on personal incomes greater than $1 million per year. In accordance with Welfare and Institution Code ("WIC") Section 5892, 5% of MHSA funds received by counties must be allocated to Innovation projects. The MHSA Innovation component aims to pilot novel projects capable of transforming the mental health system, per the requirements set forth in WIC Section 5830. Funding under the Innovation component may only be utilized for Innovation Plans approved by the county Board of Supervisors and the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Local stakeholder input and other data are used in the development of each Innovation Plan. After a public review and comment process, which culminates with a Public Hearing conducted by the Behavioral Health Commission, the finalized Innovation Plan must be adopted by the Board of Supervisors for Innovation funds to be spent. Unspent Innovation funds are subject to reversion, per WIC Section 5892(h), if the county has not encumbered Innovation funds within three-years of distribution.
DISCUSSION:
The "Rainbow Connections" MHSA Innovation Plan has been informed by local stakeholder input gathered during the community program planning process. It reflects the identified priority needs and system improvements to serve residents with mental health challenges and their families, with an intentional focus on increased access for unserved and underserved cultural populations in Monterey County, and promotion of interagency communication and collaboration to result in improved o...
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