California is at a critical juncture in the way it manages
behavioral health and substance use disorder and the impact they
can have on other social services. That’s one of the reasons CSAC
is joining Behavioral Health
Action (BHA). The new coalition is dedicated to raising
behavioral health challenges and substance use disorder higher on
the public policy priority list.
Over the past week, both the Senate and the Assembly have adopted
their initial versions of the 2018-19 state budget. The next step
in the process is for the Budget Conference Committee, which
convenes today, to resolve the differences between the two
legislative budgets and the Governor’s May Revision. Several
significant health and human services budget items remain on the
conference committee agenda that CSAC will continue to engage on.
The CSAC Health and Human Services Policy Committee met yesterday
morning as part of the 2018 CSAC Legislative Conference. Orange
County Supervisor Andrew Do gave the committee a sense of the
magnitude of the homeless issue, as well as the challenges and
progress in his county. The policy committee also heard from a
panel of experts on health care reform ideas that might take
place here in California.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for the Infant and Early
Childhood Mental Health Grant Program. SAMHSA expects to fund up
to nine grantees with up to $500,000 per year for up to five
years.
The purpose of the program is to improve outcomes for young
children by developing, maintaining, or enhancing infant and
early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and
treatment services.
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services
heard a $1 billion State General Fund proposal to help increase
the affordability and quality of health care for low-income
Californians. The proposal was submitted earlier this week by the
co-chairs of the Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems
and Coverage, Assembly Members Dr. Joaquin Arambula and Dr. Jim
Wood. The proposal includes:
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is hosting a two-day
peer exchange on health equity in Jefferson County/Louisville,
Kentucky. The event will bring together county leaders from
across the country to learn about Jefferson County’s efforts to
address the root causes of health disparities.
Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Ventura County are among
the 30 communities selected for the Pritzker Children’s
Initiative that is focusing on child development from birth to
age 3.
The National Association of Counties, National League of Cities,
Center for the Study of Social Policy, National Institute for
Children’s Health Quality and StriveTogether each selected
community partners that are demonstrating a commitment to
ensuring children have a strong start in life.
Senator Kevin De León’s measure to place the No Place Like Home
(NPLH) program on the statewide ballot gets its first hearing
next week. Introduced just two weeks ago,
SB 1206 would place the authorization for the No Place Like
Home program on the November General Election ballot.
Senate Bill 1206 by Senator Kevin De León was amended earlier
this week to place a measure on the November 2018 that would ask
voters to approve the No Place Like Home program as a valid use
of MHSA funds, among other provisions. There is ongoing
litigation pending to validate No Place Like Home as a valid use
of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Funds, with the hearing
scheduled for July 23.
The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
unveiled a plan last week for distributing the first year of
homelessness funding available pursuant to SB 2 (Chapter 364,
Statutes of 2017) by modifying their existing Emergency Solutions
Grant (ESG) program.
Department staff presented the proposal verbally last Tuesday to
the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4. The proposal would
allocate first year SB 2 homelessness funds to local governments
on a formula basis through each county or region’s Continuum of
Care (CoC).
Last week the Care 4 All California Coalition launched a
wide-ranging package of health care-related legislation.
The coalition, led by Health Access and the Service
Employees International Union, is seeking to advance the gains
made under the Affordable Care Act. Their recently announced
legislative
priorities include finding ways to increase the universality
and affordability of health care, reducing costs and prices, and
patient protections.
Interest in conservatorship issues is high in the Legislature
this year, as policymakers and counties seek solutions for those
living without shelter. CSAC is working to gain clarification on
each of the current conservatorship proposals with an eye on the
potential fiscal impacts.
A wide range of grants from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health
Services Administration are now available. The Healthy
Transitions: Improving Life Trajectories for Youth and Young
Adults with Serious Mental Disorders grant program will
provide up to $16.8 million over the next five years to help
improve access to treatment and support services for youth and
young adults who have a serious emotional disturbance or a
serious mental illness.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is hosting County
Health Day on April 18th– a day designed to highlight all the
important work counties are doing to improve health. Throughout
the day, NACo will post links and examples of county
accomplishments while sharing health tools and resources.
NACo is inviting counties across the country to join in by
posting on NACo’s Facebook page or Tweeting @NACoTweets using
#CountyHealth with links to your county’s health projects,
resources, and innovations to improve health in your communities.
The Senate and Assembly Health and Human Services Budget
Subcommittee hearings are getting underway and In-Home Supportive
Services (IHSS) will be on the agenda for both houses over the
course of the next week. The Senate Budget Subcommittee #3
hearing is today and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 hearing
is on Wednesday, March 14.
