The California Reducing Disparities Project

“The CRDP”

Proposition 63 – The Mental Health Services Act • Passed in November of 2004 – “The MHSA”

• 1% tax on personal income over $1 million annually

• Funding should go only to new or expanded programs

• State and local governments cannot redirect the funding

Transformation is the Key

• Consumer and family driven, youth guided

• Culturally competent services – the reduction of disparities

• Recovery based services (not medical model)

• True partnerships and collaboration, shared decision-making, transparency

Proposition 63 – MHSA Continued• The MHSA addresses reducing disparities and cultural

competence in the mental health system by emphasizing participation and service to those from underserved communities.

• Those from underserved communities are most often:

• From racial, ethnic, cultural communities

• This includes the LGBTQ communities, non-English speaking communities, transition aged youth, people living in rural areas, isolated seniors

5 PEI Statewide Projects • In 2007, the OAC approves a plan for 5 statewide projects

under Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) component• $129 million set aside for these projects

• Suicide Prevention• School based programs• Stigma and Discrimination Reduction• Technical Assistance and Capacity Building for Partners• Ethnically and Culturally Specific Programs and

Interventions becomes the PEI Statewide Project on Reducing Disparities

History of Project Development• Originally, the Office of Multicultural Services (OMS) of the

Department of Mental Health

• Responsible for development of a strategic plan to direct the use of $60 million dollars for PEI Statewide Project on Reducing Disparities

• In 2008, OMS works collaboratively with partners to design a $1.5 million RFP for a comprehensive project for development of the strategic plan

• True partnership with community partners from racial, ethnic, and cultural communities.

The California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP)

• The Office of Multicultural Services listens to the community – models transformation.

• Instead of one RFP, they convince the Department of Mental Health to issue seven separate RFPs

• This entire collaborative project becomes the California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP)

The Seven Partners • The Five Strategic Planning Workgroups (SPWs)

• The African American SPW• The Asian/Pacific Islander SPW• The Latino SPW• The Native American SPW• The Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) SPW

• The Facilitator Writer

• The California MHSA Multicultural Coalition (CMMC)

The California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP)

• 5 Population-specific reports +• Comprehensive strategic plan +• Input from partners and the community =

The blue print and foundation for the $60 million for the Statewide Project on Reducing Disparities

Changes Since 2010• In 2011, AB 100 is passed and makes changes to the

State Dept. of Mental Health and the MHSA

• Responsibilities and staff of the Office of Multicultural Services are transferred to the Office of Health Equity (OHE) under the CA Dept. of Public Health and to the CA Dept. of Health Care Services

• In 2012, budget bill language ensures that $15 million (the first of 4 years) is set aside from the State Administration portion of MHSA funds instead of PEI funds

• The language also gives the Office of Health Equity the responsibility of continuing to administer the CRDP

The Office of Health Equity• Embodies the spirit and vision of the MHSA

• Unparalleled in their collaboration with racial, ethnic, and cultural communities throughout the state

• Received tremendous community support during the 2011 statewide public stakeholder meetings by DMH and DHCS