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Berkeley,
California (Friday, July 20, 2007) - The
public is invited to give their input on what should be done with an
additional $330,000 of state mental health funds. Increased funding
is now available from the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) for the
cities of Berkeley and Albany.
Local programs will receive an additional $330,000 annually
beginning July 1, 2007.
In order to receive the additional
funding, the City of Berkeley must present the state with an outline
of how the funds will be used and allow the public a 30-day period
to comment on those recommendations. The public comment period
begins July 20 and will run through August 20. Residents can
download and review the recommendations at www.CityOfBerkeley.info/mentalhealth/prop63.html
and follow the directions to respond. Residents without Internet
access are invited to call (510) 981-7698 for several options on
viewing the City’s recommendations.
Following the review period, a final
proposal will be submitted for approval to the State Department of
Mental Health. The additional funds must be used in accordance with
state regulations and the Community Services and Supports Plan
approved last September. The MHSA Steering Committee, comprised of
staff, consumers and other stakeholders has provided recommendations
on how to best use the additional funds. Primary recommendations
include: greater supports to help people with serious mental
illnesses maintain housing; a fulltime Peer Counselor, funding for
benefits advocacy; and additional services for Transition Age Youth.
The Mental Health Services Act is
California state legislation approved by voters in November 2004. This Act places a 1% tax on every dollar of personal income
over $1 million. The
State allocates these revenues to local mental health departments
for the purpose of transforming and expanding mental health
services. State income
tax revenues have exceeded projections and according to the new law,
the State is required to release these additional funds to local
governments.
The Mental Health Services Act has five
funding allocations; the largest and first to be released was
Community Services and Supports (CSS). Berkeley’s initial
Community Services and Supports (CSS) plan was submitted to the
state in March 2006 after an extended planning process by staff and
community stakeholders. The
CSS plan was approved in September 2006 for approximately $900,000
annually. The additional funding will put the plan total at over 1.2
million annually.
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