Media Advisory

• Tweet

For release December 2, 2005

What:

Public hearing on a draft 3-year plan outlining priorities for using new money from Prop. 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).

The plan focuses on the needs of unserved and underserved youth and adults with serious mental illness who are homeless, seriously disabled older adults over 60 who don't have adequate care, and children with serious emotional disorders and their families.

When:

The hearing will be held from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 7 in the Board of Supervisors Chamber, 651 Pine Street, Martinez. After public comment and the Board of Supervisors' approval, the county will submit the plan to the state. The state approval process takes three months.

Who:

The Contra Costa Mental Health Commission will hold the hearing. The public is invited.

Why:

The MHSA was passed by California voters in November 2004 and levies an additional 1% tax on individuals with taxable annual income of more than $1 million. Contra Costa expects to receive $7.1 million for the first year of its plan, which could be implemented as soon as April. The initial funding, which equals about 6% of Mental Health's annual budget, is less than originally anticipated so programs will be started in specific areas and then later expanded countywide as more money is available.

How:

The 350-page plan and its executive summary is available on the Contra Costa Health Services website: cchealth.org and in Contra Costa County public libraries. A copy of the plan also is at Contra Costa Mental Health Administration, 1340 Arnold Drive, Suite 200, Martinez. Written comments have been solicited for the past few weeks and are due by December 7.

For more information contact Kimberly Mayer, MHSA Project Manager, at 925-957-5132; or by email at kmayer@hsd.cccounty.us

# # #