For Immediate Release

April 26, 2007
Contact: Anita Yoder at 530-889-4012 or
Mike Fitch at 530-886-4515

Prop. 63 Funds Working to Improve Lives of Mentally Ill in Placer County

Auburn, CA------- In the newly released Implementation Progress Report for Proposition 63 Mental Health Services Act funding, the Placer County Health and Human Services Department is showing great progress in the area of serving and improving the lives of people with severe mental illness.

The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) is one of several initiatives currently underway in Placer County working to transform mental health services. Together, these various funding streams and initiatives are part of a new, coordinated effort called the Campaign for Community Wellness.

“I feel that the new MHSA full-service partnership program has really helped me get my life back together. The caseloads are much lower for staff in this program so I get immediate and a wide range of support, like help finding a place to live, a job and generally a friend to talk to if I need it,” says consumer Joe Smith.

The overall goal of the Campaign for Community Wellness is to transform mental health services in Placer County using innovative, collaborative, culturally competent and consumer-guided approaches. Additional intents of the Campaign are to reduce stigma and embrace recovery around mental health issues. Equally important to the Campaign is reaching underserved segments of the community.

Placer County was third in the State to receive official approval from the California Department of Mental Health for Proposition 63 funds.
The Report outlines how Placer County Health and Human Services is making great strides with innovative new programs and action plans, which were developed after a lengthy community stakeholder input process. Public comment is being sought on the Report by May 21. The Report was compiled by an outside consulting firm.

Seven programs have been successfully implemented over the past 11 months ranging from mobile outreach and intervention for older adults with mental illness, to providing culturally competent mental health services for Latinos in North Lake Tahoe, to deploying integrated, multi-disciplinary services for youth aged 19 and older leaving the Children System of Care.

“Even more impressive than the number of new programs that have been put into place in the last year, is the collaborative process that has been utilized which has become a hallmark of the Mental Health Services Act and the Campaign for Community Wellness,” states XXXX, one of the community-based partners of the initiative.

“Through our coordinated efforts, we are striving to make our services more welcoming, effective and ultimately helping people with mental illness live better lives,” says Maureen Bauman, Director of the Adult System of Care and Mental Health Director for Placer County Health and Human Services Department.

The public may submit comments in writing regarding the MHSA Report, no later than May 21, 2007 to:

Maureen Bauman
Placer County Adult Systems of Care
11533 C Avenue
Auburn, CA 95603

Or by email to: mzavoras@placer.ca.gov

In addition, the Placer County Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board will be conducting a public hearing to receive comments on this report on May 21, 2007 at 6:15 pm. The meeting will be held at the following location:

Board of Supervisors Chambers
175 Fulweiler Avenue
Auburn, CA 95603

To learn more about and participate in the Campaign for Community Wellness, the public is welcome to attend Steering Committee meetings that take place each month. Please call Michele Zavoras at 889.7244 for meeting details.

To read the MHSA Implementation Report online in English or Spanish, go to:, http://www.placer.ca.gov/hhs/adult/MHSA.aspx
You can also visit any of the public libraries in Placer County or contact Michele Zavoras at 889.7244 and request a copy to be sent to your home.

Please contact Richard Knecht, Director, Children’s System of Care or Maureen F. Bauman, Director, Adult System of Care, at the Placer County Department of Health and Human Services at 530.889.7244 for further questions.

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