Position Category: CAYEN

SB 1063 (Grove) Pupil Identification Cards – Support

April 30, 2024

The Honorable Al Muratsuchi
Chair, Assembly Education Committee
California State Assembly
1020 N Street, Room 159|
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support for SB 1063 (Grove)

Dear Chair Muratsuchi, 

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Senate Bill 1063 (Grove), legislation which would require schools to add a link or QR code to local mental health services on a student’s identification card.

CAYEN is led by Transition Aged Youth (TAY), ages 15 to 26, comprising of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members throughout California which engages, empowers TAY to advocate for mental health policy that directly affects them. Since our establishment in 2006, our youth have persistently campaigned for enhanced accessibility to mental health services and support for all TAY, as well as the promotion of civil rights, restorative justice, and harm reduction practices to mitigate substance misuse among youth. Additionally, we strive to enhance and amplify the representation of TAY voices in the decision-making processes. 

This bill aims to enhance access to mental health services for Transition Aged Youth (TAY), which are crucial for youth development, especially given that 75% of mental health disorders manifest by age 24.[1] By providing youth with the tools and resources necessary to manage their mental health challenges, this bill seeks to support their overall well-being and resilience.

For these reasons, we support SB 1063 (Grove) and ask for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if CAYEN can provide assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org.

In Community,

Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network

[1] California, S. of. (2024, March 21). Early psychosis intervention plus. MHSOAC. https://mhsoac.ca.gov/initiatives/early-psychosis-intervention-plus/  

SB 997 (Portantino) Access to Narcan – Support

March 15, 2024

The Honorable Josh Newman
Chair, Senate Committee on Education
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Room 6740
Sacramento, CA  95814

Re: Support for Senate Bill 997 (Portantino)

Dear Senator Newman,

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support SB 997 (Portantino), legislation which would permit middle school and high school students to carry federally approved opioid antagonist medicines, such as Narcan, while they are on campus. Additionally, SB 997 requires middle schools and high schools to stock fentanyl testing strips and notify students of their location.

CAYEN is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers, and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.  We support the implementation of harm reduction policies that will reduce the use and effects of substance use. SB 997 calls for the implementation of measures to deter the rising rate of opioid related deaths among middle school and high school students. If students are engaging in drugs, the focus is to ensure safe use that avoids potential death from substance use.

Fentanyl, an opioid that proves to be up to 50 times more intense than Heroin, is one of the overarching drugs driving the rate of drug related overdoses in California and the United States.[1] When laced, Fentanyl is undetectable unless a fentanyl test strip is utilized. In the case of an opioid overdose, Naloxone, which is available to purchase over the counter, can help counteract its effects. As reported by the California Department of Public Health, the state of California carries a total of 7,000 opioid related deaths, with Fentanyl being the culprit of 88% of the deaths.[2] LA County reported the highest rates of Fentanyl overdose deaths in impoverished communities.[3]

Senate Bill 997 would allow middle school and high schools to adopt policy guidelines that allow students to carry opioid reversal medication. Additionally, it requires public schools to provide and communicate the access of Fentanyl testing strips. For these reasons we support SB 997 (Portantino) and request your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if CAYEN can provide assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org.

Sincerely, 

Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023b, September 6). Fentanyl facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html

[2] California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard. Prepared by California Department of Public Health (CDPH – Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch (SAPB). Accessed on 03/11/24. https://skylab.cdph.ca.gov/ODdash/.

[3] Data report: Fentanyl overdoses in Los Angeles County. (n.d.). http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/MDU/SpecialReport/FentanylOverdosesInLosAngelesCounty.pdf

SB 483 (Cortese) Prone Restraints in School – Support

April 30, 2024

The Honorable Al Muratsuchi
Chair, Assembly Education Committee
California State Assembly
1020 N Street, Room 159
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support of Senate Bill 483 (Cortese)

Dear Chair Muratsuchi,

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Senate Bill 483 (Cortese), legislation which would prohibit in all California schools the use of “prone restraint”, a technique that physically or mechanically restrains students in a face down position.

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is a Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15 to 26, led statewide program of Mental Health America of California which engages, empowers and represents TAY in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Established in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.  

The use of prone restraints is a dangerous and sometime lethal practice used on students if they are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This practice has also become synonymous as a method of discipline, with a disproportionate impact on students of color. Prone restraints are not a mental or behavioral health support, instead they traumatize or even injure students.  

For these reasons, we support Senate Bill 483 (Cortese) and ask for your, “Aye” vote. If you or your staff have any questions, of if the California Youth Empowerment Network can be of any assistance regarding youth behavioral health policy, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org, or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.

In Community,

Danny Thirakul

Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network

SB 26 (Umberg) Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Scholarship Program at HCAI – Oppose

May 31, 2024

The Honorable Thomas Umberg
1021 O St, Suite 6530
Sacramento, California 95814

Re: SB 26 – as amended 1/11/24
OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED

Dear Senator Umberg:

The undersigned organizations regret that we must respectfully oppose your SB 26, which would establish the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Scholarship Program at HCAI, unless it is amended to broaden the scholarship to more comprehensively address mental health workforce needs related to the population SB 26 seeks to serve.

Our organizations share your interest in expanding the workforce available to support individuals living with serious mental illness who are unlikely to survive safely in the community without supports, and whose condition is substantially deteriorating. As you described in your author’s statement about SB 26, many of these individuals are unhoused in our community and face high risks for repeated hospitalization, incarceration, institutionalization, mental health conservatorship, and premature death. The numbers show that California does not have enough mental health professionals, peers, and outreach workers specialized in supporting this population, and we agree that the State must immediately take steps to fill this gap.

In light of this need, we urge you to expand SB 26 to incentivize mental health professionals to serve in an array of roles and programs evidenced to meet the needs of individuals with serious mental illness and housing instability. The undersigned organizations will oppose SB 26 unless it is amended to expand the proposed scholarship program to accept applicants who agree to work for a county behavioral health agency for at least 3 years in support of any of the county’s programs to treat individuals with serious mental illness and housing instability, not just CARE Court as SB 26 currently proposes.
In addition to our proposed amendments, we recommend expanding scholarship opportunities to assist the certification of other critical types of professionals who serve individuals with serious mental illness and housing instability, such as certified peer support specialists.

Counties across California have myriad unfilled job postings for licensed mental health professionals to serve this exact population in outpatient care, outreach and case management roles, crisis response
programs, and other settings. Counties are also working to roll out new mental health programs that will require significant personnel, such as mobile crisis teams. However, SB 26 proposes to only incentivize licensed mental health professionals to serve in roles related to CARE Court, a new program that has no evidence basis or proven results, while leaving counties still unable to fill roles in their existing and other emerging programs.

This year, the challenging budget climate will limit the new programs state agencies can create, and many existing safety-net mental health programs are at risk due to changes to the Mental Health Services Act. It is critical that California builds systems that stabilize and strengthen its existing mental health programs and all its new initiatives, rather than hyper-focusing workforce development and funding efforts on untested CARE Court initiatives.

Our commitment to these proposed amendments is further reinforced by our conviction that CARE Court is the wrong approach to address the growing houselessness and mental health crises in California and is likely to do real harm to the populations it aims to help. Our concerns are deepened by the striking lack of research evidence for any clinical or social benefits deriving from court-ordered outpatient programs such as CARE Court when compared to voluntary community-based treatment. California and its counties are already dedicating overwhelming funding and operations resources to CARE Court while other, less restrictive, more effective approaches flounder for lack of funding and personnel. Let us not also take this faulty approach to addressing mental health workforce shortages.

We should consider whether counties’ difficulty finding mental health professionals to work in CARE Court programs is rooted in reasons deeper than the mental health workforce crisis. Arguably, the court-based and coercive setting of CARE Court programs conflicts with the core principles of many mental health professions, who have a duty to provide services in the least restrictive environment. For example, as articulated in their professional code of ethics, social workers have an ethical responsibility to “respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals.” Emerging professionals may be unwilling to provide services in an environment that invites moral and ethical conflict and lacks evidence basis for success, but perhaps would be willing to work in other county programs serving the same population if they had financial incentive to do so via SB 26 as we propose to amend it.

For these reasons, our organizations will respectfully oppose SB 26 unless it is amended to broaden the scholarship applicant pool and address workforce shortages across all county-based programs that serve high-risk individuals living with serious mental illness.

Sincerely,

Carmen-Nicole Cox, Director of Government Affairs
ACLU California Action

Danny Thirukal, Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN)

Deb Roth, Senior Legislative Advocate
Disability Rights California

Karen Vicari, Director of Public Policy
Mental Health America (MHA) of California

cc: Members and Committee Staff, Assembly Health Committee

AB 3260 (Pellerin) Review and Grievance Protocol – Support

March 29, 2024

The Honorable Mia Bonta
Chair, Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: AB 3260 (Pellerin) – SUPPORT

Dear Chair Bonta:

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is writing to express our support of AB 3260 (Pellerin), which will improve transparency and provide due process for consumers filing grievances and regulatory complaints concerning access to care, denied health care services, and coverage disputes.

CAYEN is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy. We firmly believe that transparency and a more effective due process is essential for ensuring the well-being and rights of all consumers, particularly TAY who are navigating complex mental health systems.

Far too often, when commercially insured patients seek treatment for behavioral health or substance use disorders, health plans exceed required timeframes for approving care requests, fail to provide access to care within legally mandated timelines, or deny requests that should be covered—even when the patient’s condition is urgent. Consumers can seek recourse, but grievance procedures are slow and opaque and frequently result in patients neither receiving timely treatment nor receiving due process when they register complaints. California’s groundbreaking behavioral health parity (SB 855) and timely access laws (SB 221) could address this crisis if consumers were able to more fully enforce them. AB 3260 can empower TAY to do just that.

Unfortunately, health plans do not consistently decide or provide proper notice of decisions concerning claims such as prior authorization based on medical necessity, urgency, and/or access to care, nor do they address grievances within the timeframes and manner specified by law. This leads consumers either to pay out of pocket while waiting for health plans to respond or to go without treatment altogether.

AB 3260 would address these issues by prohibiting health plans and disability insurers from overriding a provider’s designation of a condition as urgent, which can result in improper and dangerous delays in care It would tighten the timelines health plans have to approve/deny requests for care, and trigger an immediate grievance if a health plan fails to respond in a timely manner. If a health plan or disability insurer fails to adjudicate a grievance within mandated timeframes, it would automatically resolve in the patient’s favor. The bill will also expand due process rights to patients and prohibit ex parte communication between departments and parties to regulatory complaints, as well as further harmonize state law with federal law.

AB 3260 improves transparency and due process for consumers to ensure they have recourse when they are denied timely access to the appropriate care they are entitled to receive under the law, by health insurance for which they have already paid.  For these reasons, we support AB 3260 (Pellerin), and we respectfully request an “AYE” vote. If you have any questions, or if CAYEN can provide any assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org.

Sincerely,  

Danny Thirakul 
Public Policy Coordinator

AB 2142 (Haney) Therapy in Correctional Facilities – Support

March 28, 2024

The Honorable Kevin McCarty
Chair, Assembly Committee on Public Safety
California State Assembly
1020 N Street, Room 111
Sacramento, CA 95814

Subject: Support for AB 2142 (Haney)  

Dear Assemblymember McCarty,

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support AB 2142 (Haney), legislation which would create a pilot program at select prisons to ensure that behavioral health therapy is accessible to incarcerated people who do not have a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) severe mental health disorder classification. As a result, this bill would increase access to behavioral health services to individuals not currently eligible to receive them.   

The California Youth Empowerment Network is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.  Everyone, even TAY who are justice involved, has a right to mental or behavioral health services that could prevent self-harm, improve wellness, and reduce recidivism.

In a 2022 CDCR report, 5% of incarcerated individuals who died by suicide were aged 18 to 25.[1] This percentage rises to 57% among those aged 25 to 44. Prevention and early intervention services can play a crucial role in reducing the incidence of suicide among justice-involved individuals, especially considering that 65% of suicides occur within the first 10 years of incarceration. Therefore, enhancing access to mental and behavioral health services will benefit individuals’ long term and reduce the number of suicides.  

Additionally, 75% of serious mental health challenges begin before the age of 25.[2] Given that incarcerated TAY often have a history that includes Adverse Childhood Experiences and other trauma, it is essential that mental health services be made available and accessible to incarcerated TAY who request those services.

For these reasons, we support AB 2142 and ask for your “Aye” vote. If you or your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.

In Community,

Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network

[1] 2022 annual report on suicides and suicide prevention … (n.d.). https://cchcs.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2022-Annual-Report.pdf  

[2] California, S. of. (2024, March 21). Early psychosis intervention plus. MHSOAC. https://mhsoac.ca.gov/initiatives/early-psychosis-intervention-plus/

AB 2051(Bonta) PSYPACT – Support

March 18, 2024

The Honorable Marc Berman

Chair, Assembly Committee on Business and Professions
1020 N Street, Room 379
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support for AB 2051(Bonta)

Dear Assemblymember Barman,

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support AB 2051 (Bonta), legislation that would establish California as a member of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). This compact would allow a psychologist licensed in a state that has joined PSYPACT, to practice telepsychology in other PSYPACT states even if they may not be licensed in that specific state.

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy. One area of focus is increasing mental health services and reducing the barriers that make them inaccessible.

Accessing mental health services can be highly challenging for Transitional Age Youth (TAY) pursuing higher education. Each year, tens of thousands of students relocate to and from California for college, disrupting their access to mental health providers. Varied licensure standards across states hinder telepsychology and temporary in-person services across state borders, leaving students and other populations unable to receive care from their preferred providers. AB 2051 aims to dismantle this obstacle by permitting psychologists, authorized through an “E.Passport” from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) to practice telepsychology across state lines.

Given that over 40 states are already part of PYSPACT, mental health providers in California could broaden their telepsychology practice. Additionally, individuals residing in member states would maintain access to services from their preferred and trusted providers. For these reasons we support AB 2051 (Ramos) and ask for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org.

Sincerely

Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator

AB 2007 (Boerner)Transitional Housing for Homeless Youth – Support

April 12, 2024 

The Honorable Alex Lee

Chair, Committee on Human Services
California State Assembly 
1020 N Street, Room 124
Sacramento, CA 95814 

RE: Support for AB 2007

Dear Chair Lee,

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Assembly Bill 2007 (Boerner), legislation which upon appropriation by the Legislature would establish the Unicorn Homes Transitional Housing for Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth Program for LGBTQ+ youth ages 18 to 14.

CAYEN is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.

We recognize housing as a crucial element in fostering a supportive environment for a youth’s recovery and wellness. This is especially important for our transitional age youth, ages 15 to 26, as 75% of mental health disorders manifest by age 24.[1] AB 2007 aims to support our homeless LGBTQ+ transitional age youth who have additionally experienced an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) of parental abandonment and neglect, with safe and stable housing. 

In addition to housing, this bill aims to support the youth in addressing their adverse experiences with their families, in hopes of reunifying them. For these reasons, we support AB 2002 (Boerner). If you have any questions, or if CAYEN can provide assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org.

In Community,

Danny Thirakul

Public Policy Coordinator

California Youth Empowerment Network

[1] California, S. of. (2024a, March 21). Early psychosis intervention plus. Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission . https://mhsoac.ca.gov/initiatives/early-psychosis-intervention-plus/

AB 456 (MAIENSCHEIN) CSU Mental Health Hotlines – Support

March 28, 2023

The Honorable Brian Maienschein
State Assembly
1021 O St., Suite 8320
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support – AB 456 (Maienschein)

Dear Assembly Member Maienschein:

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to Support AB 456 (Maienschein), which would require California State University (CSU) and California Community Colleges (CCC) campuses and request University of California (UC) campuses to establish a campus mental health hotline.

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.  

CAYEN members know firsthand how providing mental health services and supports, both on and off campus improves student success and student behavioral health. Between 2018 and 2020 the suicide rate for youth ages 15-24 in California was 8.7 per 100,000. We must do everything we can to reduce these startling statistics. While many campuses already provide mental health services and supports, some campuses do not provide mental health services, leaving many students without a support system during a time of crisis.

Assembly Bill 456 works close the equity gap, ensuring every student will have access to mental health supports in a time of crisis. We believe that this bill empowers our Transitional Age Youth to better live their lives and promote a community of self-care. 

For these reasons, we SUPPORT AB 456. If you or your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org, or our Interim Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.

In Community,

Danny Thirakul

Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network

SB 326 (EGGMAN) Behavioral Health Services Act – Proposed Amendments

July 13, 2023

Submitted via Web Portal and E-mail

Assembly Member Jim Wood, Chair
Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: SB 326 (Eggman) Proposed Amendments

Dear Assembly Member Wood:

The California Youth Empowerment Network requests the following amendment detailed below to SB 326, the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA). The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.

We have included in our submission a separate, red-lined markup of the Word Document for Amendments including the requested amendment. Justification for the requested amendment is as follows:

Page 66. Amend Section 5845 to include two Transition Age Youth (TAY) aged 16-26 at the time of appointment on the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission

5848. (a) The Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission is hereby established to administer grants, identify key policy issues and emerging best practices, and promote high-quality programs implemented pursuant to Section 5892 through the examination of data and outcomes.

(b) (1) The commission shall replace the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 5814.

(2) The commission shall consist of 22 voting members as follows:

(A) The Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee.

(B) The Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Superintendent’s designee.

(C) The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Human Services, or another member of the Senate selected by the President pro Tempore of the Senate. Page 2 of 2

(D) The Chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Health or another Member of the Assembly selected by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(E) A county behavioral health director.

(F) (i) The following individuals, all appointed by the Governor:

(I) One adult or older adult who has or who has had a serious mental illness.

(II) One adult or older adult who has or who has had a substance use disorder.

(III) Two Transition Age Youth ages 16-26 at the time of appointment to the Commission.

(IV) A family member of an adult or older adult with a serious mental illness.

Justification: The voices of our TAY with lived experience are essential to the BHSOAC. Additionally, family members should never outnumber people with lived experience on boards or commissions. TAY with lived experience possess unique and vital knowledge that is separate and distinct from the knowledge possessed by family members.

Currently, SB 326 includes 4 family members and 2 individuals with lived experience. CAYEN recommends that there be two additional people with lived experience on the BHSOAC, and these members should be Transition Age Youth (TAY). Half of the family representation in SB 326 is parents of children and youth. This is because the needs and experiences of children and youth with behavioral health challenges are very different than the needs and experiences of adults. When parents are represented, TAY should be equally represented to complement the family perspectives. Youth and young adults on commissions are often subject to tokenism. To avoid tokenism, it is essential that at least two TAY serve on the BHSOAC to provide support and encourage dialogue.

CAYEN is grateful for the opportunity to offer the suggested amendment to SB 326 to strengthen TAY representation within the BHSA. If you or your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org, or our Interim Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.

In Community,

Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network