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Funded by Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act

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The Governor's Budget transfers $27.255 million in FY 2012-13 budget authority for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Workforce Education and Training (WET) Program from the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). OSHPD's vision is "Access to Safe, Quality Healthcare Environments that meet California's Diverse and Dynamic Needs" and the WET Program aligns with OSHPD's existing efforts to promote the distribution, diversity, competency, collaboration and capacity of California's health delivery system, particularly among rural and urban inner city areas of unmet need.

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Workforce Education and Training (WET) Five-Year Plan

Workforce Education and Training (WET) Five-Year Plan Advisory Sub-Committee

Workforce Education and Training (WET) Reports


The $27.255 million in budget authority being transferred includes:

  • Stipend Programs - OSHPD administers, through contracts with ten higher educational entities, stipend programs for graduate students who plan to work in the public mental health system. The goals of the stipend programs are to increase the number of licensed mental health professionals in public mental health, and to incorporate the MHSA principles into graduate level curriculum. The graduate degrees represented in the WET stipend program are: Master of Social Work (Social Workers); Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT); Clinical Psychologist (CIPSYCH); and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
  • Song Brown Residency Program for Physician Assistants - Adds a mental health track to the Song Brown Residency Program for Physician Assistants (PAs) as a strategy to address the shortage of individuals who can administer psychotropic medications.  PA programs that train second-year residents to specialize in mental health are eligible to apply for augmented funding.
  • Psychiatric Residency Programs - The psychiatric residency programs ensure that the psychiatric residents receive training in the County public mental health system, working with the populations prioritized by that community.  Further, the psychiatric residents are encouraged to continue working in the California public mental health system after their rotations end.
  • Technical Assistance: Statewide Technical Assistance Center - To promote the employment of mental health clients and family members in the mental health system (WIC Section 5822(g)), DMH has contracted with Working Well Together (WWT) to establish a statewide technical assistance center. WWT is a collaborative of four statewide mental health agencies (California Network of Mental Health Clients, NAMI California, United Advocates for Children and Families, and the California Institute for Mental Health). WWT promotes the employment of individuals with client and family member experience in the public mental health system. The center gathers and develops resources to assist public mental health agencies in recruiting, hiring, training, supporting and retaining multicultural consumers, family members and parents/caregivers as employees. Visit the Statewide Technical Assistance Center Webpage.
  • Technical Assistance: Regional Partnerships - Five Regional Partnerships (RPs) have formed across the state to promote building and improving local workforce, education and training resources (WIC Section 5822(d)). The RP collaboratives represent Bay Area counties; Central Valley counties; Southern counties; Los Angeles County; and Superior Region counties. RPs include representation from mental health, community agencies, educational/training entities, consumers, family members, and other partners to plan and implement programs that build and improve local workforce education and training resources. Each RP focuses on projects and goals specific to their regional needs. Visit the Regional Partnerships Webpage.
  • Development of WET Five-Year Plan. The current WET plan is from April 2008 to April 2013. The plan includes statewide needs for professional and occupational categories and develops a plan for education and training.

Contracts for the stipend programs, psychiatric residency programs, statewide technical assistance center and regional partnerships are multi-year, have varying end dates and funded through an annual appropriation.

OSHPD and MHSA Transition - PDF Presentation | PowerPoint Presentation

Reports from Workforce Education and Training Programs

Background

The passage of Proposition 63 known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) in November 2004, provides increased funding, personnel and other resources to support county mental health programs and monitor progress toward statewide goals for children, transition age youth, adults, older adults and families. The Act addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention and service needs and the necessary infrastructure, technology and training elements that will effectively support this system.

The MHSA imposes a 1% income tax on personal income in excess of $1 million to support to public mental health system (PMHS) via prevention, early intervention and services. Historically underfunded, the PMHS suffers from a shortage of mental health providers in addition to mal-distribution, lack of diversity, and under-representation of practitioners with client experience. The MHSA Workforce Education and Training (WET) funds assist counties to develop and maintain a culturally competent workforce capable of providing client and family-driven services promoting wellness, recovery and resilience.

WET requirements include:

  1. Expand capacity of postsecondary education programs
  2. Expand forgiveness and scholarship programs
  3. Create new stipend program modeled after the federal Title IV-E program
  4. Create new regional partnerships among the mental health system and educational entities to increase the diversity, reduce the stigma, and promote distance learning techniques
  5. Implement strategies to recruit high school students for mental health occupations
  6. Develop and implement curricula to train staff on WET principles
  7. Promote the employment of mental health consumers and family members in the mental health system
  8. Promote the meaningful inclusion of mental health consumers and family members
  9. Promote the inclusion of cultural competency in the training and education programs

Read the full text of the Mental Health Services Act in English or Spanish

Five-Year Plan

    The Five-Year Plan

    The Five-Year Plan, required in Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 5820-5822, was approved by the California Mental Health Planning Council in April 2008. It covers the period April 2008 to April 2013, with subsequent plans to be developed every five years. This document articulates a vision, values and mission for implementation of Workforce, Education and Training programs and activities. The Plan provides guidance to assist in long-range planning toward an integrated mental health service delivery system.

California Mental Health Planning Council

The California Mental Health Planning Council advises OSHPD on issues related to education and training policy development, and provides oversight for OSHPD's education and training plan development via its Human Resources Committee. The Planning Council is mandated by federal and state statute to advocate for children with serious emotional disturbances and adults and older adults with serious mental illness, to provide oversight and accountability for the public mental health system, and to advise the Administration and the Legislature on priority issues and participate in statewide planning.

Resources and Guidelines

Compendium of Rural Best Practices/Models
This report highlights successful WET programs in Calaveras, Siskiyou, and San Bernardino counties, in addition to five other successful and replicable rural health programs in the United States (and one in Japan). It was developed by the National Rural Task Force in 2010 to serve as a resource to policy makers, legislators, and direct service providers.

Historical

County Level Programs

In support of the MHSA, an overall investment of $210 million from the MHSA was designated solely for County-administered Workforce, Education and Training (WET) efforts. To access these funds, each County is required to perform a local workforce needs assessment and local stakeholder process. Conducted on a county level to identify local needs and priorities, this information is used to prepare counties' Workforce, Education and Training (WET) plans. These plans include strategies, activities and programs that promote the employment of clients and family members, increase the cultural and linguistic competency of the workforce, outreach to unserved and underserved populations, enhance the effectiveness and diversity of the workforce, and increase access to services for mental health clients.

  • Mental Health Loan Assumption (MHLAP)
    The following Registered or Licensed professionals are eligible to apply: Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, as well as Postdoctoral Psychological Assistants and Trainees. Qualified applicants must work in the public mental health system and be employed in a hard to fill position. Loan Repayments are up to $10,000 for a one-year service obligation. MHLAP awardees from 2008 to 2011 by region

  • Song-Brown Program
    The Song-Brown Health Care Workforce Training Act (Song-Brown Program) was established in 1973 under the Health and Safety Code Section 128200-12841 of the California Health and Safety Code to increase the number of health professional training slots in established medical school. The program:
    • Encourages universities and primary care health professional to provide healthcare in medically underserved areas, and
    • Provides financial support to family practice residency, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and registered nurse (RN) education programs throughout California
  • Shortage Designation Program
    The Shortage Designation Program (SDP) provides technical assistance to clinics and other primary care providers seeking recognition as a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for Primary Care, Dental Health, and Mental Health disciplines or Medically Underserved Area/Medically Underserved Population (MUA/MUP). SDP provides data analysis services and liaisons between the federal government and healthcare provider sites applying for HPSA or MUA/MUP status. Shortage designations:
    • Enable clinic to be eligible for assignment of National Healthcare Services Corp Personnel or apply for Rural Health Clinic Certification, Federally Qualified Health Center status(FQHC), FQHC Look-Alike, or New Start/Expansion program, depending on the designation
    • Promote OSHPD's mission of "Equitable Healthcare Accessibility for California"

Info Notices and Letters

  • Notices
    • 2011
      • Notice 11-16 - Amendment of the Annual Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Revenue and Expenditure Report for Fiscal Years 2008-09 and 2009-10
        • Enclosure 1 - Revenue and Expenditure Report Enclosure Instructions |
        • Enclosure 2 PDF | Enclosure 2 Excel - MHSA Revenue and Expenditure Report 2008-2009
        • Enclosure 2 PDF | Enclosure 2 Excel - MHSA Revenue and Expenditure Report 2009-2010

          • ***If you have any questions regarding the Revenue and Expenditure Report, please contact the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission at (916) 445-8696 or MHSOAC@mhsoac.ca.gov.

      • Notice 11-13 - Implementation of the State-Administered Mental Health Loan Assumption Program (MHLAP) for State Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-12
        • Enclosure 1 - State Administered Mental Health Loan Assumption Program Funding Allocated by County (FY 2011-12)
      • Notice 11-07 - Threshold Languages
        • Enclosure 1 - Medi-Cal Beneficiaries by County and Primary Language
        • Enclosure 2 - Threshold Languages by County
        • Enclosure 3 - Counties Grouped by Number of Threshold Languages
    • 2010
      • Notice 10-27 - Implementation of the State-Administered Mental Health Loan Assumption Program (MHLAP) for State Fiscal Year (FY) 2010-11
      • Notice 10-26 - Implementation of the Annual Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Revenue and Expenditure Report for Fiscal Year 2009-10
      • Notice 10-21 - Proposed Guidelines for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Fiscal Year 2011/12 Annual Update to the Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan
      • Notice 10-12 - Clarification and Modification to the Annual Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Revenue and Expenditure Report for Fiscal Year 2008-09
      • Notice 10-02 - The 2010 Cultural Competence Plan Requirements
      • Notice 10-01 - Proposed Guidelines for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Fiscal Year 2010/11 Annual Update to the Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan
    • 2009
      • Notice 09-22 - Implementation of the Annual Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Revenue and Expenditure Report for Fiscal Year
        2008-09
      • Notice 09-19 - Info notice 09-19 Implementation of the State-Administered Mental Health Loan Assumption Program (MHLAP) for State Fiscal Year (FY) 2009-10
        • Enclosure 1 - Funding Allocated by County (FY 2009-10)
        • Enclosure 2 - Mental Health Loan Assumption Program Application
      • Notice 09-03 - Implementation of the State-Administered Mental Health Loan Assumption Program (MHLAP) for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2008-09
    • 2008
      • Notice 08-28 - Proposed Guidelines for the Mental Health ServicesAct (MHSA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2009/2010 Annual Update to the Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan
        • Enclosure 1 - Exhibit A, County Certification
        • Enclosure 2 - Exhibit B, Description of Community Program Planning and Local Review Processes
        • Enclosure 3 - Exhibit C, Report on FY 2007/08 Community Services and Supports Activities
        • Enclosure 4 - Exhibit D, Mental Health Services Act - Work Plan Description
        • Enclosure 5 - Exhibit E, FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Summary Funding Request Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 6 - Exhibit E1, FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Community Services and Supports Funding Request Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 7 - Exhibit E2, FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Workforce Education and Training Funding Request Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 8 - Exhibit E3, FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Capital Facilities and Technological Needs Funding Request Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 9 - Exhibit E4, FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention Funding Request Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 10 - Exhibit E5, FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Innovation Funding Request Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 11 - Exhibit F1(a), Community Services and Supports New Work Plan Narrative, FY 2009/10 Annual Update
        • Enclosure 12 - Exhibit F1(b), FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Community Services and Supports Projected Revenues and Expenditures for New Work Plans Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 13 - Exhibit F2(a), FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Workforce Education and Training New Work Plan Narrative
        • Enclosure 14 - Exhibit F2(b), FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Workforce Education and Training New Work Plan Narrative Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 15 - Exhibit F3(a), FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Capital Facilities New Work Plan Narrative
        • Enclosure 16 - Exhibit F3(b), FY 2009/10 Mental Health Services Act Capital Facilities Projected Revenues and Expenditures for New Work Plans Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 17 - Exhibit F4(a), FY 2009/10 Technological Needs New Work Plan Narrative
        • Enclosure 18 - Exhibit F4(b), FY 2009/10 Technological Needs Projected Revenues and Expenditures for New Work Plans Worksheet and Instructions
        • Enclosure 19 - Exhibit G, FY 2009/10 Community Services and Supports Prudent Reserve Plan
      • Notice 08-20 - Request for Application for Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Workforce Education and Training Funding for Regional Partnerships
        • Enclosure 1A - Directions for Completion of an Application for Funding for Regional Partnerships
        • Enclosure 1B - Application for Funding for Regional Partnerships
        • Enclosure 2 - Application for Funding for Regional Partnerships (sample)
        • Enclosure 3 - Regional Partnership - Availability of Funds
      • Notice 08-16 - Plan Update Guidelines for Fiscal Year 2008/09 Addendum - Modified Process
        • Enclosure 1 - Instructions for Preparing the FY 2008/09 Mental Health Services Act Previously Approved Capital Facilities and Technological Needs and Workforce Education and Training Projects Funding Requirements (Exhibit 2a)
        • Enclosure 2 - Instructions for Preparing the Mental Health Services Act Community Services and Supports Funding Request for FY 2008/09 (Exhibit 3R)
      • Notice 08-13 - Funding Augmentation to the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Workforce Education and Training Component
        • Enclosure 1 - Total Workforce Education and Training (WET) Planning Estimates
    • 2007
      • Notice 07-14 - Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Workforce Education and Training Component - Proposed Three Year Program and Expenditure Plan Guidelines, Fiscal Years 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09
        • Enclosure 1A - Proposed Guidelines - Workforce Education and Training Component of the Three-Year Program Expenditure Plan for FYs 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
        • Enclosure 1B - Workforce Face Sheet
        • Enclosure 2 - MHSA Workforce Education and Training Local Assistance Combined Three-Year Planning Estimates
      • Notice 07-06 - County Funding Request for Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Workforce Education and Training Planning and Early Implementation Funding
        • Enclosure 1 - Request for Funding for Planning and Early Implementation Activities Under the MHSA Workforce Education and Training Component
        • Enclosure 2A - MHSA Workforce Education and Training Local Assistance Combined Three-Year Planning Estimates
        • Enclosure 2B - MHSA Workforce Education and Training Local Assistance Combined Three-Year Planning Estimates
          (FY2006-07 - FY2008-09)
  • Letter

 

Contact Us

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
Health Professions Education Foundation
Workforce Education and Training Program
400 R Street, Suite 460
Sacramento, CA 95811
Questions or Comments? Send us an Email

Inna Tysoe, Staff Mental Health Specialist
Inna.Tysoe@oshpd.ca.gov
916-326-3650

Linda Onstad-Adkins, Director of Programs Administration
Linda.Onstad-Adkins@oshpd.ca.gov
916-326-3695

Page last revised: May 15, 2013 10:05 AM