Amador County – The Amador County Behavioral Health Services Department heard Monday it is eligible for $5.7 million dollars in state funding. Consultants told a workshop of 20 people, mostly mental health professionals, that Amador County had $7.5 million dollars available from the 2004 Mental Health Services Act. Kayce Rane of Resource Development Associates, of Lafayette, said Amador had only spent or allocated $1.8 million dollars of that, “so you’ve got some money left to think about.” Rane and Jennifer Susskind said they were helping Amador BHS plan for the funding in 5 areas of mental health services. Those areas included Community Services & Supports; Prevention & Early Intervention; Workforce Education & Training; Capital Facilities & Technology; Housing; and Innovation. The consultants took roundtable comments from attendees, to hear various organization concerns. Rane said she was impressed with the respect attendees seemed to have for each other’s opinions. And she liked their areas of interests and concern, including young children, family involvement, transitional age youth, awareness, resiliency and wellness, housing, and justice. She noted that there was no school district or education represented in the group. Rane said Proposition 63 the Mental Health Services Act of 2004 imposed a statewide 1 percent tax on incomes of more than $1 million dollars. Funds are distributed to counties based on population, and are meant to “expand and transform mental health services in California.” They told the funding amounts available to Amador County. She said for Prevention and Early Intervention, Amador’s portion is $727,600 dollars. But she said 45 percent – or $327,000 dollars – of those funds must be used by July 2010, prompting a fast-tracking in that area. She noted that a minimum of 51 percent of the funds “must be dedicated to” children and youths age zero to 20. Susskind said Workforce Education & Training funding in Amador amounted to $450,000 dollars, which must be used in 10 years. Amador is eligible for $778,500 dollars in funds for Capital Facilities & Technology; and another $501,000 dollars for Housing. The county also is eligible for $230,000 dollars for the “innovation component.” The planning process will included a community kickoff and visioning meeting, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, written surveys, workgroup meetings and strategy roundtables, community prioritization meetings, and document review and comment. Consultants will host a series of meetings for community outreach and involvement, starting with a “planning council” meeting 3:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30th at the Behavior Health Services building on Conductor Boulevard. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 00:32
Amador Mental Health Services
Amador County – The Amador County Behavioral Health Services Department heard Monday it is eligible for $5.7 million dollars in state funding. Consultants told a workshop of 20 people, mostly mental health professionals, that Amador County had $7.5 million dollars available from the 2004 Mental Health Services Act. Kayce Rane of Resource Development Associates, of Lafayette, said Amador had only spent or allocated $1.8 million dollars of that, “so you’ve got some money left to think about.” Rane and Jennifer Susskind said they were helping Amador BHS plan for the funding in 5 areas of mental health services. Those areas included Community Services & Supports; Prevention & Early Intervention; Workforce Education & Training; Capital Facilities & Technology; Housing; and Innovation. The consultants took roundtable comments from attendees, to hear various organization concerns. Rane said she was impressed with the respect attendees seemed to have for each other’s opinions. And she liked their areas of interests and concern, including young children, family involvement, transitional age youth, awareness, resiliency and wellness, housing, and justice. She noted that there was no school district or education represented in the group. Rane said Proposition 63 the Mental Health Services Act of 2004 imposed a statewide 1 percent tax on incomes of more than $1 million dollars. Funds are distributed to counties based on population, and are meant to “expand and transform mental health services in California.” They told the funding amounts available to Amador County. She said for Prevention and Early Intervention, Amador’s portion is $727,600 dollars. But she said 45 percent – or $327,000 dollars – of those funds must be used by July 2010, prompting a fast-tracking in that area. She noted that a minimum of 51 percent of the funds “must be dedicated to” children and youths age zero to 20. Susskind said Workforce Education & Training funding in Amador amounted to $450,000 dollars, which must be used in 10 years. Amador is eligible for $778,500 dollars in funds for Capital Facilities & Technology; and another $501,000 dollars for Housing. The county also is eligible for $230,000 dollars for the “innovation component.” The planning process will included a community kickoff and visioning meeting, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, written surveys, workgroup meetings and strategy roundtables, community prioritization meetings, and document review and comment. Consultants will host a series of meetings for community outreach and involvement, starting with a “planning council” meeting 3:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30th at the Behavior Health Services building on Conductor Boulevard. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
