Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is dedicated to advancing our mission and vision for California’s behavioral health system by effecting public policy through advocacy, educational initiatives, and partnerships with government agencies and stakeholders. Guided by our public policy priorities, our work extends to the implementation of AB 988 The Criss Hotline, enhancing voluntary behavioral health services, increasing parity or access to services and resources, and supporting youth behavioral health needs. We vehemently oppose the use and expansion of involuntary treatment. Through culturally responsive community based behavioral health services, addressing systemic barriers, and increasing the behavioral health workforce we can have a thriving, equitable, and just continuum of care for all Californians.

Our Principles

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When evaluating proposed changes to the public mental health system, MHAC uses the following principles:

  1. The change will address a core problem with structure, delivery or impact.
  2. The design and implementation of the change will engage clients and their families
    in roles that have purpose and meaning for them.
  3. Mental health and substance use disorder services will be integrated with seamless
    access and minimal barriers.
  4. Services will address the diverse needs of California’s population, including those
    with serious mental illnesses.
  5. Proposed changes will be based on a paradigm of recovery and resilience, meeting
    clients where they are and engaging them in their own recovery.
  6. Outcomes will be measured and accessible to providers and the public. Outcomes
    will have a recovery focus, including factors such as relationships, a safe residence,
    meaningful activities and improved health.
  7. Program evaluation will focus on the most critical elements of proposed changes
    and will include both empirical outcomes and process measures at the community,
    system and client levels as appropriate.
  8. Training and technical assistance will be available to counties, providers and
    stakeholders.
  9. Training will expand and ensure a skilled, diverse workforce that includes
    individuals with lived experience.
  10. Proposed changes will respect client choice and foster maximum client
    independence.

  • EDUCATION

    Engage in activities to educate decision-makers and the public on MHAC’s priorities, general behavioral health topics, and recovery concepts to support informed policy development.

  • UNHOUSED POPULATION

    Support legislation that promotes the housing first approach and provides comprehensive, voluntary services along with housing to unhoused individuals with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI), or co-occurring substance use disorder.

  • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARITY & TIMELY ACCESS

    Collaborate and engage in advocacy efforts with groups, organizations, departments and policy makers to enforce and rollout parity and timely access laws.

  • IMPROVE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS AT THE STATE & LOCAL LEVEL

  • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT

    Advocate for legislation and policies that protect BHSA funding for voluntary services and preserves Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI) funding.

  • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE

    Support legislation and policies that increase career pathways for Transition Age Youth & advocate for policies that elevate and expand peer employment.

  • OPPOSE THE EXPANSION OF INVOLUNTARY SERVICES

  • POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

    Ensure that implementation of legislation such as AB 988, Care Court, and SB 326 reflects and is inclusive of MHAC’s mission, values, principles and priorities.

  • YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

    Support legislation that promotes resilience, as well as psychologically healthy and safe environments for youth, specifically as defined by California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN).

  • VOLUNTARY SUPPORTS, SERVICES & TREATMENT

    In partnership with the Connection Coalition, engage in various legislative and educational initiatives that increase access to timely and appropriate voluntary behavioral health services, supports, and treatment, including State level workforce development efforts.

Past Public Priority Documents

Legislative Reports

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