In November 2004, California voters passed Proposition 63, which established the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) in an effort “to reduce the long-term adverse impact on individuals, families and state and local budgets resulting from untreated serious mental illness…”

Since its inception, MHSA has funded programs that have expanded and enhanced the public behavioral health system of care through cultural competency, community-based collaboration, and inclusion of clients and family members in behavioral health planning and services. MHSA is funded through a 1% tax on adjusted annual income over $1 million.

For more information, call (800) 722-9866 or email MHSA@dbh.sbcounty.gov.

Announcements:
Community Program Planning Opportunities
 MHSA CPAC Schedule At-A-Glance Flyer
MHSA CPAC Schedule At-A-Glance Flyer – Spanish
MHSA CPAC Schedule At-A-Glance Flyer – Mandarin
MHSA CPAC Schedule At-A-Glance Flyer – Vietnamese

MHSA Components

The MHSA identifies six primary program components for funding that are locally developed through community program planning. Outcomes are integrated into a Three-Year Program and Expenditures Plan, with updates occurring on an annual basis.

Community Program Planning (CPP)
The CPP component encourages community contribution to improve behavioral health outcomes. CPP efforts include informing stakeholders of fiscal trends, evaluation, and program improvement activities, as well as obtaining feedback. CPP is a constant practice that has been incorporated into DBH operations.

Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI)
PEI program services are intended to prevent mental illness from becoming severe and disabling, emphasizing improvement to timely access to services for underserved populations. In 2015, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission updated PEI components to include the following categories:

  • Stigma and Discrimination Reduction
  • Outreach for Increasing Recognition of Early Signs of Mental Illness
  • Access and Linkage to Treatment
  • Prevention Only
  • Prevention and Early Intervention
  • Suicide Prevention

PEI programs are implemented in collaboration with community organizations, with services often delivered in community settings. The programs offer various prevention activities, short term counseling, and referrals to additional services as necessary. View or contact DBH’s PEI providers.

Community Services and Supports (CSS)
CSS programs are intended to increase access to mental health services, focusing on seriously emotionally disturbed children, youth, and populations with serious mental illness. The majority of MHSA funding (80%) must be directed toward CSS programs.

Innovation
Innovation projects test new, creative methods to address the mental health needs of unserved and underserved populations by expanding or developing services and supports that produce successful outcomes. Innovation projects are time-limited, must contribute to learning, and be developed through a process that is inclusive and representative, especially of unserved, underserved, and inappropriately served populations.

Workforce Education and Training (WET)
The WET program is designed to address the public mental health workforce issues by utilizing various strategies to recruit and retain qualified behavioral health employees including:

  • providing training opportunities to DBH and contract agency staff,
  • promoting the hiring of a culturally diverse workforce,
  • offering financial incentives to recruit and retain staff
  • recruiting department volunteers,
  • facilitating the clinical intern program, and
  • supporting the inclusion of consumers and their family members into the workforce.

For more information about WET, visit the Career’s webpage.

Capital Facilities and Technology Needs
The Capital Facilities and Technological Needs component is designed to increase opportunities for accessible community-based services for clients and their families to reduce disparities in underserved groups. These efforts include funding technological infrastructure to facilitate the highest quality, cost-effective services and supports for clients and their families, and/or community-based facilities which support culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

Plans and Reports

Announcements:

Annual Plan Updates

FY 24/25 MHSA Annual Plan Update
Fiscal Year 2022-23
Fiscal Year 2021-22
County BOS Approval Fiscal Year 2021-22
COVID-19 Response 2020
Fiscal Year 2019-20 
County BOS Approval Fiscal Year 2019-20
Fiscal Year 2019-20 Amendment
Fiscal Year 2018-19
County BOS Approval Fiscal Year 2018-19

MHSA 3 Year Integrated Plan
Fiscal Years 2023-2024 through 2025-2026
County BOS Approved Plan (June 2023)

Fiscal Years 2020-2021 through 2022-2023
Approved Plan (June 2020)
County BOS Approval Fiscal Years 2020-21 through 2022-2023

Fiscal Years 2017-18 through 2019-20
Approved Plan (July 2017)
County BOS Approval Fiscal Years 2017-18 through 2019-20

MHSA Annual Revenue and Expenditure Reports
Fiscal Year 2022/23 – Revised
Fiscal Year 2021/22
Fiscal Year 2020/21
Fiscal Year 2019/20
Fiscal Year 2017/18
Fiscal Year 2016/17

Innovation Plan
Innovation Plan 2023
Innovation Plan 2019
Innovation Plan 2019 Combined Attachments
2018 InnROADs Project Plan
The STAY Innovation Project Final Report
MHSA AB 114 Reversion Plan
MHSA Update for Housing Fiscal Year 18/19
RBEST Report 2021
RBEST Report Executive Summary

Additional Documents
MHSA Issue Resolution Process
MHSA Revenue Operational Guidance
For concerns about MHSA issues, call (800) 722-9866 or email MHSA@dbh.sbcounty.gov.