Report 2012-122 Recommendation 15 Responses

Report 2012-122: Mental Health Services Act: The State's Oversight Has Provided Little Assurance of the Act's Effectiveness, and Some Counties Can Improve Measurement of Their Program Performance (Release Date: August 2013)

Recommendation #15 To: Mental Health Planning Council, California

The Planning Council should document and make public the reviews that it performs of MHSA programs to demonstrate that it is performing all required reviews.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015

The California Mental Health Planning Council released 4 reports in early 2015 which document the Council's reviews of the public mental health system including MHSA programs. The Council has proactively sought data and information from a variety of sources and endeavored to solicit input and viewpoints from specific populations. These reports fulfill the requirement that the Council make public the reviews it performs.

Additional reports will be released each January of reviews and work done in the prior year. The reports are posted on the Council's website, distributed electronically and shared with key policy makers.

Copies of these reports will be sent to the State Auditor via email.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

As mentioned in the previous response, the Council has launched several projects to collect data and input on program performance from the local level. Reports on the information collected are expected to be released in late 2014/early 2015. Additionally, as the projects continue, additional reports will be released throughout the year. All reports will be posted on the Council's website.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

As mentioned in the previous recommendation, several review activities are in process and final reports are expected at the end of the year. In addition to those reports, the Council anticipates releasing smaller reviews, recommendations and white papers throughout the year.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The Council instituted and awarded its inaugural Joe Mortz Memorial "Spotlight on Excellence" in Community mental health commendation. CMHPC solicited nominations statewide for community mental health programs that reflected the values and principles of MHSA in its operations, outreach, and services, although it was not required that they be funded through MHSA. Scores were based on understanding and adherence to the principles, sustainability, cost-per-consumer/partner, and benefit to community. The "Peers Empowering Peers" project of Napa County was identified as the most closely aligned with MHSA principles and practice. The congratulation letter is posted on the CMHPC website, and letters describing the program were sent to local, state, and national legislators in order to highlight the success within their districts. The same letters were distributed electronically to advocates and supporters that included Mental Health Boards and Commissions, MHSA coordinators, and the CMHDA.

[WIC 5772- (a), (b), (c)(4), (e).]

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

The Planning Council's response provides a single instance for which it publicized its activities. The recommendation envisions that the Planning Council have a process to ensure that it documents and makes public all reviews it performs.

All Recommendations in 2012-122

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.