Amador County – The Amador County Mental Health Steering Committee last week selected a set of strategies to address Prevention and Early Intervention in the county. The committee met last Monday (November 30th) at the Amador County Health building in Sutter Creek, and reached a consensus in it planning to receive state Mental Health Services Act funding. Consultant Jennifer Susskind, senior program associate for Resource Development Associates led the committee in deciding the approach for the Amador County Behavioral Health Department in its preparation for MHSA funding. Susskind in an e-mail Thursday said the next steps in Amador County planning process are separate areas of “Prevention and Early Intervention,” as well as “Workforce Education and Training,” and “Innovation.” Susskind said the “Planning Council meeting was a great success, and members unanimously reached an agreement to move forward” with Prevention and Early Intervention” strategies “proposed by Resource Development Associates.” The agreed upon strategies by age group start with “Children and Families” including “Interventions for young children with depression and/or anxiety. At the “school-aged children” level, the strategy is to have “A Youth Wellness and Activity Center.” For adults and all-age people, the approved strategy is a “Field Based Mental Health Liaison” for primary care, jailhouse care, the probation department and other agencies. Strategies for older adults include “Grandparenting Support” and “Respite for Caregivers.” Susskind said Amador Behavioral Health and the steering committee are now in the process of finalizing the prevention and intervention plan. She said a draft of the plan will be available for public review by mid-January. Following the 30-day review period, there will be a public hearing of the plan at the Mental Health Board Meeting in February. Committee members also were asked to review a list of Workforce Education and Training strategies recommended by the RDA. They were asked to send comments or questions to Susskind by December 31st. The strategies will be brought to the community for prioritization during a meeting January 26th in Amador County. Susskind said the “Innovation component” of the state Mental Health Services Act “provides funding for new, novel, and creative strategies for addressing the mental health needs of each county.” She said the committee is “seeking community recommendations for potential Innovation strategies.” RDA is using a survey (ending January 4th) “to help the Behavioral Health Department develop a list of potential projects.” Findings will be presented at the Community Prioritization Meeting set for 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 26th. Committee members are asked to reserve the full day for the meeting. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.