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February 4, 2008

Contra Costa Health Services' (CCHS) Mental Health Division is conducting a survey in English and Spanish and holding three community forums as part of its strategic planning process for continued implementation of Prop. 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).

"The plan is to use the survey and forums to help us with our stakeholder process as we develop new programs and strategies to help prevent serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance," said Donna Wigand, Director of the Mental Health Division. "The focus is on prevention and early intervention, which is the new phase of our MHSA work."

The survey is available on the CCHS website, cchealth.org, or by mail. To order a hard copy survey, call 925-957-5151. The deadline for receipt of the surveys is February 23.

Titled the Contra Costa MHSA Prevention and Early Intervention Community Survey, it asks respondents 10 questions to prioritize various mental health needs, hard-to-reach populations and effective contact locations.

Data from the survey will be supplemented with input gathered at three Prevention and Early Intervention community forums hosted by the Contra Costa Mental Health Commission. They are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. February 12 at Alhambra High School in Martinez, February 13 at Ambrose Recreation Center in Bay Point and February 20 at Maple Hall in San Pablo.

"Together, the surveys and forums should provide a good compass to determine what direction we want to head with the Mental Health Services Act," said Kathi McLaughlin, co-chair of the Commission.

Prop. 63 was passed by California voters in November 2003 and levies an additional 1% tax on individuals with taxable income of more than $1 million. Each county was required to work with the community to develop a detailed plan to implement the MHSA. Contra Costa developed stakeholder groups to serve four age-level populations: children, transition-age youth, adults, and older adults.

To access the survey and more information about the county efforts to implement the Mental Health Services Act, visit cchealth.org and click on Mental Health, then MHSA, or call Kimberly Mayer at 925-957-5132.

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