Weekly Wrap-Up
January 15, 2021
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Special Thanks
 

MHAC thanks and congratulates Chad Costello who has been a faithful member of the MHAC Board and is now moving on to be  Public Policy Director for California Association of Social Rehabilitation Association (CASRA). Chad has served on MHAC Board for 19 years as a representative from MHA Affiliate in Los Angeles. The mission of Mental Health America of California is to ensure that people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender, and ethnicity, who require mental health services and supports are able to live full and productive lives, receive the mental health services and other services that they need, and are not denied any other benefits, services, rights, or opportunities based on their need for mental health services. Chad was a strong supporter of this mission and expressed that support in practical ways. He was thoughtful about the issues, dedicated to developing appropriate services and passionate about the rights of people with mental health challenges. He was particularly helpful to the MHAC Board in public policy and advocacy. His knowledge of the broader issues as well as his grasp of the details assisted MHAC with successful advocacy. Chad further enriched the board with his rich "on the ground" experiences.
 
Chad's advocacy for people with mental health challenges and for the supports and services they want will now continue at CASRA. MHAC looks forward to working with him in his new capacity.
 
Many thanks and good luck, Chad!

Announcements


CAYEN (California Youth Empowerment Network), a program of MHAC, Co-Sponsors Senator Portantino Bill to Create and Teach Mental Health Curriculum for K-12 Schools
 
State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D - La CaƱada Flintridge) has introduced SB  224 to require all students in California receive age appropriate mental health education. Specifically, this bill ensures that pupils between grades 1 and 12 receive mental health education from a qualified instructor at least one time during elementary school, one time during middle school, and one time during high school.
 




'Peer Respite' Homes Aim to be Alternative to Psychiatric Wards
 
Peerless pits allow guests to avoid psychiatric hospitalizations and visits to the emergency department. It currently operates in at least 14 states. There are five in California, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County.
 


 
California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Executive Summary and Summary of Changes

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has developed a framework that encompasses broad-based delivery system, program and payment reform across the Medi-Cal program, called CalAIM: California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal. CalAIM advances several key priorities of the Administration by leveraging Medicaid as a tool to help address many of the complex challenges facing California's most vulnerable residents, such as homelessness, behavioral health care access, children with complex medical conditions, the growing number of justice- involved populations who have significant clinical needs, and the growing aging population.




Virtual Event

South Asian Community Healthy Promotion Services at The Hume Center presents: Coping Strategies Series

 

 

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