Eighth National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations March 11-14, 2013 Oakland Marriott City Center
Stacie Hiramoto, MSW Director – REMHDCO Racial & Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition Mental Health Association in California
The California Reducing Disparities Project A product of Proposition 63 or the Mental Health Services Act - the “MHSA” Proposition 63 was passed by the voters of California in the General Election of November 2004
The Mental Health Services Act This proposition was approved by 53.4% of the voters in spite of then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger not supporting it. 1% tax on personal income over $1 million annually. The MHSA has been bringing in approximately $1 billion annually.
The Mental Health Services Act State and local governments cannot redirect the funding (Maintenance of effort and non- supplantation provisions are in the Act. Funding should go only to new or expanded programs based on models proven to be effective*
The Mental Health Services Act But the most important significant thing about the MHSA: TRANSFORMATION If all we do through the MHSA is provide more of the same services - then we will have failed! We must do business DIFFERENTLY !
Elements of a “ Transformed ” Mental Health System Consumer and family driven, youth guided Culturally competent services – the reduction of disparities Recovery based services (not medical model) True partnerships and collaboration, shared decision-making, transparency
The Mental Health Services Act The MHSA addresses reducing disparities in the mental health system by emphasizing: participation by, and service to those from underserved communities .
The Mental Health Services Act Those from underserved communities are most often: From racial, ethnic, cultural communities - People of color make up approximately 60% of the California population. Also the LGBTQ communities, non-English speaking communities, immigrants, refugees, religious groups, and others
The Mental Health Services Act The mainstream mental health community is most comfortable defining disparities by : Transition age youth Seniors Rural communities Veterans
The California Reducing Disparities Project In 2007, MHSA funding was set aside for several statewide projects. One of these projects was to reduce mental health disparities for ethnically and culturally specific programs and interventions . This was in addition to , rather than instead of, expecting Counties to work towards reducing disparities
The California Reducing Disparities Project Beginning in 2010, $1.5 million was set aside annually for planning for this project including the development of the “ Strategic Plan ” An additional $15 million each for 4 years (for a total of $60 million) was set aside for programs and approaches in the “ Strategic Plan ”
Special Population Reports Development of the “Strategic Plan” was preceded by separate “ Special Population Reports ” by five different communities: African American/of African Descent Asian American/Pacific Islander Latino Native American LGBTQ
Special Population Reports Put together by organization by forming a “Strategic Planning Workgroup” (SPW) that specialized in serving that specific community . The reports contain information obtained directly from consumers, family members, professionals, and providers throughout the state from that specific community .
The California MHSA Multicultural Coalition – “the CMMC” • Primary Goal: To work toward the integration of cultural and linguistic competence into the public mental health system. • To coordinate and support the work of the five Strategic Planning Workgroups (SPWs) • Work together with the Facilitator/Writer to produce a comprehensive Strategic Plan to identify new approaches toward the reduction of disparities.
The California MHSA Multicultural Coalition – “the CMMC” To bring forward diverse multicultural perspectives that have not been adequately represented in the mental health system or in previous efforts to obtain consumer and family member input To address a variety of mental health issues and provide state level recommendations on all of the MHSA components and related activities.
The Strategic Plan Put together by the “Facilitator/Writer” or California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN) Common themes and major findings of all five Special Population reports will be included in the “Strategic Plan”. Will contain recommendations for policy makers, administrators, providers and people from the community on the reducing disparities in California
The Strategic Plan and RFPs The first draft of the “Strategic Plan” will be released any day now. A 30 day public comment period will follow. The next step: Development of the RFPs for the $60 million ($15 million over 4 years) based on recommendations from the Strategic Plan Estimated release of the RFPs: Fall of 2013 – So it is a perfect time to begin following the CRDP!
Office of Health Equity • Office of Health Equity (California Department of Public Health) • Currently headed by Marina Castillo-Augusto and Kimberly Knifong • People in government can be partners, they can work with the community, they can model best practices • Also, a little help from friends in the Legislature
The California Reducing Disparities Project Copies of the Special Population Report for any of these communities or the Strategic Plan can be found on the website for the project: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Page s/CaliforniaReducingDisparitiesProject( CRDP).aspx
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