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IN THE NEWS
CALIFORNIA SIGNS OFF ON COUNTY PLAN FOR EXPANDED DRUG MEDI-CAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY FORUMS SET TO HELP PLAN MHSA 3-YEAR BUDGET
PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR OCT. 13 EVENT
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Mission  
OUR MISSION
The mission of Contra Costa Behavioral Health, in partnership with consumers, families, staff, and community-based agencies, is to provide welcoming, integrated services for mental health, substance abuse, homelessness and other needs that promotes wellness, recovery, and resiliency while respecting the complexity and diversity of the people we serve. 
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OUR VISION
Contra Costa Behavioral Health envisions a system of care that supports independence, hope, and healthy lives by making accessible behavioral health services that are responsive, integrated, compassionate, and respectful. 
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DIRECTOR'S REPORT
FALL EDITION 2016
Cynthia Belon
Cynthia Belon,  LCSW
Director of Behavioral 
Health Services
Making Changes to Make a Difference
The next exciting change coming to the Behavioral Health Division is also one that our community worked hard to bring about.
Beginning in 2017, thousands of Contra Costa residents will have access to a comprehensive program of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment options through Medi-Cal, including residential treatment, intensive outpatient services and new medication-assisted therapies, via the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System demonstration waiver.
It will be a massive upgrade, and it took a massive effort from Fatima Matal Sol, staff across the Behavioral Health Division, and many community and healthcare partners to plan the infrastructure to accommodate an expected 7,000 new patients.
The state Department of Health Care Services has just approved our plan for the organized delivery system.
Thank you all. Your efforts will improve the lives of many in Contra Costa County.
But that's not the only big news as we enter fall in Behavioral Health. By now most of us have heard that our former Homeless Program is now the Health, Housing and Homeless Services Division of Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS).
For Behavioral Health, that really just means business as usual. We will continue to work closely with Lavonna Martin and her team.
CCHS made this change because we have a growing need to provide housing services across the entire department.
The Affordable Care Act requires our healthcare system to better address the overall health of individuals, which includes access to safe housing. Substantial federal funding is tied to providing patient-centered, whole-person care.
"Treat the whole patient" is the same guiding philosophy that led CCHS to create the Behavioral Health Division in 2011, when we saw that patients typically needed more than one service.
Given the recent changes, it's important to mention that Behavioral Health's core mission remains unchanged. We continue to find new ways to reach vulnerable patients and ensure that every door is the right door for all the services they need.
Our latest project to improve access is a welcome packet that we will provide to new patients and their families, to help them navigate all of the services that are available at our Behavioral Health programs. Look for this resource at all of our sites in the near future.
Managers and line staff will also continue to play an important role in shaping division policy. A new opportunity to get involved is coming up as we begin the process of creating the division's first five-year strategic plan.
I encourage everyone to share their ideas and help us develop goals we can all support.
We'll update staff as developments occur. Fall will be a busy time in Behavioral Health, but exciting as well!
Sincerely, 
CB Signiture 2
Cynthia Belon, LCSW 
Behavioral Health Director
Contra Costa County Behavioral Health
 
WaiverCALIFORNIA SIGNS OFF ON COUNTY PLAN FOR EXPANDED DRUG MEDI-CAL SERVICES
Contra Costa's plan to dramatically expand its substance use disorder (SUD) services received a key approval from the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) in August.
If the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also approves the plan, Contra Costa will join several California counties in expanding Medi-Cal benefits through the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System demonstration waiver, possibly as soon as 2017.
Under the waiver, all Medi-Cal beneficiaries living in the county may receive coverage for more comprehensive SUD treatment reimbursable under the Drug Medi-Cal program, including residential treatment, withdrawal management, recovery support services, case management and medication-assisted treatment.
The waiver allows coverage in participating counties that enact evidence-based service expansions that align with American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria. If approved, Contra Costa's proposal would approximately double the county's capacity to serve patients with SUD.
The Behavioral Health Division, led by its Alcohol & Other Drugs Services (AODS) program, collaborated with numerous partners to develop the plan, including patients, doctors, nurses, healthcare providers, social workers, mental health and AOD advocates, civic leaders, people in recovery, AOD clients, law enforcement partners and the courts.
For more information, contact Fatima Matal Sol at Fatima.MatalSol@hsd.cccounty.us
COMMUNITY FORUMS SET TO HELP PLAN MHSA 3-YEAR BUDGET
Contra Costa Behavioral Health invites anyone interested in improving local mental health services to participate in one of three community forums this fall that will influence how the county spends its Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding.
The Mental Health program is developing Contra Costa's 3-year MHSA budget for 2017-20, and needs ideas and advice from the community, particularly providers, patients and their families, to set priorities and address service gaps.
The current 3-year budget, which ends next summer, will have provided about $41.6 million to more than 80 programs serving Contra Costa, prioritized through a similar community planning process.
We will hold the forums in east, central and west Contra Costa, beginning in San Pablo on Oct. 6. The agenda for each is the same, including a review of the MHSA's purpose and process, an overview of existing services in the community, and discussion of new and emerging needs and strategies.
If you'd like to attend one the forums, please RSVP to mhsa@hsd.cccounty.us or 925-957-5150. Translation services and other reasonable accommodations are available.
The first forum will be 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 at Maple Hall Community Center in San Pablo.
The second forum will be 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at Pleasant Hill Community Center.
The third forum will be 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at Ambrose Community Center in Bay Point.
For more information, contact Warren Hayes at Warren.Hayes@hsd.cccounty.us
PLEASE PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO LET US KNOW HOW TO IMPROVE
Feedback The Behavioral Health executive team encourages all staff to provide us with feedback about what is and is not working. An easy way to submit a comment is to click on the feedback link that appears in every edition of the Behavioral Health Connection.

If you follow the link, you can leave a comment with a third-party online vendor that the administration will receive, read, and consider. The vendor allows anonymous comments, if you do not wish to disclose your identity.

We value your comments, and appreciate your candor. Please let us know what we can do better.
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PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDERS FOR OCT. 13 EVENT
Project Homeless Connect volunteers at Richmond Memorial Auditorium in August 2014.
The Homeless Program seeks both volunteers and service providers for Project Homeless Connect, Contra Costa's one-stop annual event to connect residents experiencing homelessness to benefits, medical care, behavioral health and social services, shelter and housing.
Click for printable flier
The event will be held this year at the county fairgrounds in Antioch on October 13. Project Homeless Connect typically serves hundreds of people, and dozens of volunteers are needed to greet participants, serve food and assist with completing applications and finding services.
Training is provided. County employees can volunteer to participate for all or part of the day by using their leave, with the approval of their supervisors.
The Homeless Program is also recruiting service providers -- past events have included services such as wheelchair repair, massage, foot care, pet care and legal assistance.
For more information or to volunteer your time or services, visit cchealth.org/homelessconnect or call 925-313-7700.
DATES ANNOUNCED FOR NONVIOLENT CRISIS INTERVENTION STAFF TRAINING

Behavioral Health Division employees can now sign up for an important, one-day training to help us create a safer work environment.

 

The training, "Nonviolent Crisis Intervention," emphasizes early intervention and nonphysical methods for preventing or managing disruptive behavior. It is required for all BHS staff.

 

Few will ever experience such behavior in the workplace, but many of us do work with consumers who have complex behavioral health needs. Everyone should know how to identify behaviors that could lead to a crisis, and how to most effectively respond to each behavior to prevent the situation from escalating.
Each daylong training session begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. Because the training is for credentialing purposes, no one will be admitted late.
Sessions will be held on different dates in different regions of the county:
West County Adult Mental Health Clinic (2523 El Portal Drive, San Pablo): Oct. 18, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13
Central Contra Costa Mental Health Clinic (2425 Bisso Lane, Concord): Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Dec. 9
Antioch Health Center (2335 Country Hills Drive, Antioch): Oct. 31, Nov. 28, Dec. 12
To sign up, email Peter Ordaz at Peter.Ordaz@hsd.cccounty.us with three preferred dates, ranked.

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Courtesy of the BHS Communications Team 

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