January 26, 2007

Contact: Seana Doherty
Streamline Consulting Group
PH: 530.582.6762
Streamline1@earthlink.net

Campaign for Community Wellness – Placer County’s Innovative Approach to Proposition 63 Funding

Auburn, CA---------Placer County Health and Human Services is well known for its innovative approaches to delivering mental health services to clients. And with the anticipated funds of Proposition 63 (an estimated $10million over the next three years) Placer County Health and Human Services Department sees an opportunity to be more creative and responsive. Using Prop. 63 funds, along with other funding streams targeted to improving mental health, Placer County HHS is launching a Campaign for Community Wellness that will tackle the critical mental health needs of the community.

“By collaborating with our community-based organizations, faith-based groups, and service organizations, we are changing the way we deliver services so that we can be more accessible, responsive and accountable to our customers,” says Dr. Richard Burton, xx of HHS.

The Campaign for Community Wellness goes beyond standard MHSA requirements by leveraging funds from other areas for a greater impact. “By integrating the synergistic elements of our funding streams, we are more efficient with our dollars and our outreach. Ultimately, this will allow us to be more successful in supporting our clients.”

Like other counties, Placer County has involved local stakeholders in the process of applying for and implementing the use of MHSA Prop. 63 funds. Stakeholders include mental health consumers, families, service providers, faith-based organizations, education, law enforcement, and Latino and Native American advocates.

Critical in the Campaign for Community Wellness is the perspective of the client. “We are bringing the client voice into every facet of our business,” says Richard Knecht, Director of HHS Children System of Care. “This way we can adjust our solutions and be more creative in the way we deliver care.”

The first phase of the Campaign for Community Wellness will focus on all those with mental health disorders, specifically targeting the populations of: nineteen to twenty-one year olds who typically fall through the cracks of system delivery, and Latino’s and Native Americans who need to be served in a culturally competent manner.

Recent Campaign for Community Wellness Programs include:
  • Same Day/Next Day Treatment – serving clients immediately when trauma event occurs;
  • Crisis Triage - for more effective client handling;
  • Trainings and tools for staff and community based organizations to better serve clients;
  • An online comprehensive guide to support services (www.placer.networkofcare.org);
  •And, a Welcome Center for adults – a consumer run resource center for those with mental health issues.

The Campaign for Community Wellness as it relates to MHSA and its successes will be discussed on Wednesday, January 31, from 10-noon in Roseville at the Gateway Center (XXBerkeley Ave). Client stories and questions and answers will be integral to this session. For information and to register for this event, please email: pcn@placercf.org or call 885-4920.

Proposition 63, passed by California voters in November 2004, provides mental health funding through and additional 1% tax on incomes over $1million. For more information about MHSA, go to www.dmh.ca.gov/.