The next stakeholder meeting regarding the Transfer of Medi-Cal Mental Health Services to DHCS is scheduled for:

Friday, March 9, 2012
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
1500 Capitol Avenue, Auditorium
Sacramento, CA.

A Community Forum will be held April 4, 2012, to discuss the impact of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), in Butte and neighboring counties. The Community Forum is sponsored by the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), and facilitated by two MHSOAC committees, the Client and Family Leadership Committee and the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Committee.

 

The Community Forum will be held from 2:30 to 6:00 PM.

 

            Location: Chico Masonic Family Center

            1110 West East Avenue

            Chico, California 95926

            Phone: (530) 342-7143 (Directions only)

                            

Specifically, the MHSOAC is interested in hearing from stakeholders about how MHSA services and supports that were funded as a result of Proposition 63 have made a difference for them, their families or their community. MHSOAC Committee members and staff will facilitate a semi-structured discussion with attending stakeholders designed to elicit feedback and diverse views.  

 

Information and stories gleaned through this discussion will be summarized annually and used to provide feedback to the MHSOAC about how persons have experienced the MHSA in local communities throughout California. This information will be considered by the MHSOAC in shaping future policy direction.

 

Interpreters will be made available upon request. Please contact the MHSOAC at mhsoac@mhsoac.ca.gov or (916) 445-8696 for these requests and provide at least 7 days notice to help ensure availability. Late requests will be honored if possible.

 

Because space is limited we would appreciate an RSVP if you are planning on attending or attending with a group of participants. Please RSVP to mhsoac@mhsoac.ca.gov or (916) 445-8696.

Two legislative hearings on mental health reorganization and three MHSOAC committee meetings were held in February. Below you'll find a link to a brief summary of the legislative hearings and key discussion that occurred in the Mental Health Funding and Policy, Services, and Evaluation Committees.

 

These included:

• Joint Legislative Hearing on Mental Health Reorganization - 2/21/12
• Assembly Select Committee on Disabilities - 2/23/12 
• Funding and Policy Committee - 2/15/12
• Services Committee - 2/22/12
• Evaluation Committee

Click here to read the summaries of the meetings.   

In fact, people with mental illness are four times more likely to be a victim of violence. One in four has been attacked in the past year. Researchers looked at 26 studies from developed countries. 

 

Mental Health charities reported that, despite public fears, people with mental illness were much more likely to be a victim than a perpetrator.

 

Read the full story at NAMI California.  

Please join CMH for a series of webinars outlining best practices, models and strategies for developing and implementing wellness centers and peer-driven programs in small counties on March 30, April 27, and May 18. The first webinar was held March 2. 

 

Webinar 2: Wellness Centers: Models and Programming

(Facilitator: Anne MacRae; Invited speakers from various counties):
Infrastructure, Financial Sustainability, Special Issues

Date: Friday, March 30

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Webinar 3: Employees with Lived Experience within County Systems

(Facilitator and presenter - Anne MacRae; additional presentations by invited speakers):
Models of employment, Supervision versus mentoring, Employment evaluations

Date: Friday, April 27

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Webinar 4: Sustainability and Funding Streams

(Facilitator: Anne MacRae)

Funding and Sustainability, Outcome measures, Closure and Action Plan: Where do we go from here?

Date: Friday, May 18

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Reserve your Webinar seats now.

 

Click here to register for the entire series. 

or register for individual sessions:   

 

Webinar #2, March 30:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/707160017 

 

Webinar #3, April 27:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/662991592

 

Webinar #4, May 18:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/371038289

 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

 

For more information, contact:

Shoshana Zatz

Associate II

California Institute for Mental Health

2125 19th Street, 2nd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95818

(916) 556-3480, ext. 141 (office)

(530) 219-0862 (cell)

 

szatz@cimh.org   

www.cimh.org 

NAMI California's 2012 Annual Conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California on Friday August 17th & Saturday August 18th. We are now accepting applications for workshops. This year's theme is "All of Us Together: Advocacy in Action".

 

All applications must be submitted with this attached form.

 

Please include a brief biographical sketch of each presenter, along with the title and proposed objective for your workshop. The may be up to a total of four presenters per workshop. You are responsible for your own LCD projectors; TVs and VCRs may be rented at the hotel.

 

Completed forms must be received by April 6th, 2012.

Fax or email them to:

 

NAMI California

Attn: Nikki Townsend

nikki.townsend@namicalifornia.org 

(916) 567-0163 office   (916) 567-1757 fax

 

Families of children ages 11-14 who  struggle with a low mood are invited to participate in a web-based program funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The program is being conducted by researchers at ORCAS (www.orcasinc.com), a behavioral science research company in Eugene, Oregon. The program is called Blues Blaster - Parents Preventing Depression.

 

What is the Blues Blaster project?

ORCAS received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health to create a web-based program to help parents prevent depression in their 11 to 14-year olds.

What will participants receive?

• Families will receive up to $300 for their time ($25 for youth and $50 for parents for each assessment).
• Families will learn about depression and skills to prevent depression, and have a chance to give feedback about what they like or don't like about the program.

What will be included in the Blues Blaster program?

• Interactive modules to teach parents and youth about depression, mood and activity tracking, the importance of engaging in pleasant activities, and increasing positive thinking.
• Additional resources on positive parenting, relaxation, problem solving, and social skills.

Click here to begin the application process.

Contact ORCAS project staff by phone at 1-866-822-0226 ext 2 or via email at bluesblaster@orcasinc.com.