The Honorable Mia Bonta Chair, Assembly Health Committee 1020 N Street, Room 390 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for AB 257 (Flora)
Dear Chair Bonta,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 257 (Flora), legislation that would establish a telehealth and other virtual services specialty care network, designed to serve patients of safety-net providers.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy. Californians in rural communities have the most difficulties accessing behavioral health care, which contributes to California’s growing health disparities.
AB 257 creates a network of rural health clinics, health centers, critical access hospitals, and other community health centers for the purpose of delivering tele-healthcare and other virtual services in communities that lack access. According to the California Health Care Foundation more than 67% of residents in the Central Valley, home to many rural agricultural communities, had to wait longer than reasonable for a mental health appointment in the last year.[1] In addition, more than half the residents believe their community doesn’t have enough mental health providers.
This specialty network will be instrumental to reducing mental health disparities and ensuring access to those who need it most. It is for these reasons we support AB 257 (Flora). If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
The Honorable Mia Bonta Chair, Assembly Health Committee 1020 N Street, Room 390 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for AB 280 (Aguiar-Curry)
Dear Chair Bonta,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) writes in support of AB 280 (Aguiar-Curry), a bill that would increase the accuracy of provider directories by requiring health plans to ensure 95% accurate directories by 2029 or face penalties and fines. In addition, the bill would also protect enrollees from additional costs of services incurred from out of network providers due to inaccurate directories.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy. The accuracy of network provider directories is essential to receiving timely access to the mental and behavioral health services enrollees want and need.
California has made great strides toward expanding coverage for mental health services. This expansion requires health plans to provide an accurate network of providers that is available to enrollees. Inaccurate directories increase the time it takes for enrollees to make appointments and delay the delivery of services. Furthermore, inaccurate directories put enrollees at risk of being denied coverage and having to pay out-of-pocket costs due to receiving services from an out-of-network provider. By holding health plans accountable to provide accurate directories and shielding enrollees from potential costs associated to these inaccuracies, enrollees will be able to receive the care they deserve in a timely manner preventing potential crisis from occurring.
It is for these reasons MHAC supports AB 280 (Aguiar-Curry) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
The Honorable Sharon Quirk-Silva California State Assembly 1021 O Street, Room #4210 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Sponsor Support for ACR 23
Dear Assemblymember Quirk-SIlva,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is proud to support Assembly Concurrent Resolution 23, a resolution that would recognize the third week of May 2025 (Mental Health Awareness Month) as Mental Health Peer Appreciation Week.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy.
As California’s mental health needs continue to grow, MHAC recognizes the critical role of Peers, people with lived experience navigating California’s behavioral healthcare system and receiving services for their mental or behavioral health challenges. As local and statewide policy leaders continue to make decisions about the best way to address California’s mental health needs, Peer voices are essential in ensuring that these decisions reflect the realities of those most impacted. Peers are essential in shaping policies that directly impact the availability and effectiveness of these services and programs.
Furthermore, Peers can use their lived experience to enter the behavioral health workforce and become Medi-Cal Certified Peer Support Specialists. Peers can work within their local communities to encourage, engage with, and support others with mental health, addiction, and or trauma challenges, using their lived experience to provide hope, support, and be a role model of recovery.
As California continues to address the mental and behavioral health needs for all Californians, investing in and prioritizing Peers must remain central to the conversation. For these reasons, we proudly sponsor ACR 23.
The Honorable Mia Bonta Chair, Assembly Health Committee 1020 N Street, Room 390 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Opposition to AB 20 (DeMaio)
Dear Chair Bonta,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) writes in opposition to AB 20 (DeMaio), legislation that would repeal Housing First in an attempt to end homelessness. However, Housing First is a policy model that prioritizes providing permanent supportive housing to unhoused individuals, immediately ending their homelessness regardless of if they receive services. Repealing Housing First would have the opposite effect to the legislation’s intended purpose, exacerbating homelessness rather than solving it.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy.
Housing First plays a vital role in advancing MHAC’s mission by ensuring that housing remains a stable support for individuals in recovery, particularly for unhoused individuals facing behavioral health challenges. Many unhoused individuals experience substance use and mental health challenges while living on the streets. An analysis of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Program found that 23% of unhoused Californian’s experience chronic substance abuse.[1] Housing First ensures access to permanent supportive housing by protecting individuals from housing discrimination, irrespective of their substance use, treatment history, or engagement in services. As California continues investing in resources to support our unhoused community, housing remains the most effective tool for getting people off the street. Once housed, individuals are more likely to voluntarily seek out mental and behavioral health services.
It is for these reasons MHAC must oppose AB 20 (DeMaio) and ask for your “No” vote. If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
The Honorable Mia Bonta Chair, Assembly Health Committee 1020 N Street, Room 390 Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Support for Assembly Bill 641 (Gonzalez)
Dear Chair,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 641 (Gonzalez), legislation that when funds are appropriated would direct the Depart of Public Health to develop a drug-induced movement disorder awareness program. Drug-induced movement disorders, such as Tardive Dyskinesia, are the result of long-term use of antipsychotic medication for serious mental illness and results in the involuntary and repetitive movement of the face, toros, and/or other body parts.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy.
Among the various choices individuals have for addressing their mental and or behavioral health challenges, taking antipsychotic medication is one option. However, taking antipsychotics comes with its own symptoms and risks, a drug-induced movement disorder being one of them. Due to a lack of awareness and the unpredictability of developing such a disorder, many individuals may not recognize the symptoms or know when to consult their healthcare provider. While the severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe, a drug-induced movement disorder can have lifelong mental and physical impacts, adding to the challenges of managing one’s mental health.
By raising awareness about drug-induced movement disorders, California can ensure that individuals who choose to take antipsychotic medication are well prepared to manage the potential risks. For these reason MHAC supports AB 641 (Gonzalez) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
The Honorable Matt Haney Chair, Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development 1020 N Street, Room 156 Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: MHAC Support for AB 255 (Haney)
Dear Chair Haney,
Mental Health America of California is writing to express our support of AB 255 (Haney), legislation that would authorize state programs to fund supportive-recovery residences with an emphasis on abstinence.
MHAC is a peer-run organization that has been leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy.
For individuals in recovery who secure permanent supportive housing, many prefer the option of living in a drug and alcohol-free environment. Under the current Housing First model, state-funded housing programs cannot deny housing solely based on drug or alcohol use unless other violations occur. This bill would authorize up to 25% of a county’s total permanent supportive housing inventory to offer a drug- and alcohol-free environment for those who voluntarily choose it. If participation in a supportive recovery residence remains a voluntary choice and is not the individual’s only available housing option, this bill would align with the Housing First model and supports MHAC mission to increase access to essential supports and services.
By respecting an individual’s right to self-determination in choosing the housing environment that best supports their recovery journey, this bill promotes a person-centered approach to care. For these reason MHAC supports AB 255 (Haney) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
The Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor, State of California 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Act Now to Help Save Over 9,700 Foster Children from Being Displaced by the FFA Insurance Crisis
Dear Governor Newsom:
On behalf of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services (the CA Alliance), and the undersigned organizations, we request the Governor and its Administration to lead in finding a solution to prevent over 9,700 foster children under the care of Foster Family Agencies (FFAs) from being displaced by the FFA insurance crisis. If we don’t act now, FFAs could be forced to close their doors, leading to foster children potentially being uprooted from their home, school, community, healthcare provider, social worker, and current placements. We ask the Governor’s Office and Administration to work in collaboration with the CA Alliance to find solutions tothe FFAs insurance crisis so they can continue to support parents working towards reunification, foster families, and the over 9,700 foster youth under their care.
Background on the CA Alliance & FFAs The CA Alliance is a member association that represents over 160 nonprofit community-based organizations that provide behavioral health, child welfare, education, prevention, juvenile justice and other critical services to children, youth and families in public systems, including FFAs. Many of these services are provided through contracts with county public agencies and/or health plans.
FFAs play a crucial role in helping the Administration achieve its goals to reform the child welfare system. Counties rely on FFAs to help support the needs of foster children because FFAs specialize in serving medically fragile children, LGBTQ+ youth, older foster youth and children with higher needs. FFAs are trained to care for youth who have experienced abuse, exploitation, poverty, and racism and can offer services that counties do not have the capacity to provide.
There are nearly 45,000 children and youth in the California foster care system, the vast majority of whom have been separated from their parents due to neglect or abuse. Today, approximately 9,700 of those children are placed under the care of FFAs, which is nearly 1 in 5 foster youth. FFAs help to support family reunification efforts, which aim to safely return children in foster care to their biological families whenever possible and appropriate. This means FFAs work closely with birth families and offer parenting classes, substance abuse counseling, mental health services, and other resources designed to help parents or relatives create a safe and stable home environment. FFAs also assist with transporting and supervising visits between foster children and their relatives, which could be a few hours away.
When reunification is not possible, FFAs work to recruit foster parents and help them get certified to host foster children. FFAs also help to train foster families, and cover training expenses, so these families can properly support high-risk placements and ensure foster parents are well-prepared to handle the complexities of fostering. FFAs provide 24/7 on call assistance and help connect foster parents to social workers in moments of crisis, many times helping the family stabilize so they can continue offering foster children a safe home.
FFA Insurance Crisis FFAs must be insured to be contracted to accept children and youth into their foster homes. Most insurers have left the market and no longer insure FFAs. A single insurance company, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC) currently covers about 90% of all the FFAs in California. In June of this year, NIAC made the shocking announcement that it will be sending out notices of nonrenewal for coverages for all FFAs in the state of California.
This is forcing most FFAs to find alternative insurance, if it can be found, and if the FFA can afford the potential increased costs of a different insurance policy. These increased costs are not covered by the rates paid to FFAs, and therefore result in FFAs making difficult decisions, and in some cases, forcing them to close.
Impact of FFA Closures to the Child Welfare System FFAs closing would result in California’s county welfare agencies needing to manage the placements of displaced foster children and youth. For foster children, being uprooted after finally settling into a family home is a devastating setback. It means starting from scratch in another new home, starting over with therapists and support specialists, even having to start a new school mid-year. Worse, it means losing their sense of stability. Multiple research studies show that the loss of a social worker alone can significantly disrupts the permanency process and severs yet another bond in a foster child’s life: with each loss of a social worker, the rate of achieving permanency for a foster youth drops dramatically from 74.5% with one social worker to less than 3% with three or more social workers. 1 FFAs help to create consistency in the lives of foster children.
If FFAs close, the lost capacity will mean that foster children will have a greater chance of being in unlicensed settings for long periods of time such as welcome centers, offices, hotels, and could even become homeless.
Action Needed to Prevent Displacing over 9,700 Foster Children This crisis will not only impact the provision of FFAs that place children and youth with foster families, but also impact adoptions of children in foster care. FFAs who are dually licensed as adoption agencies are often contracted by counties to help children be adopted through foster care. In 2024, 30% of foster youth (6,505) were adopted out of foster care statewide, thanks in part to FFAs. We ask that the Governor’s Administration to work with the CA Alliance and FFAs to find solutions that help FFAs remain open, such as creating a pool offunds to help FFAs offset the higher insurance premiums and build a risk pool to avoid a future insurance crisis.
Should you require any additional information or documentation to process this change, please do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth Oseguera at eoseguera@cacfs.org. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The Honorable Aisha Wahab California State Senate 1021 O Street, Suite 7330 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Senate Bill 402 (Wahab) – OPPOSE
Dear Senator Wahab:
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) respectfully opposes Senate Bill 402, legislation which expands eligibility of people who can place individuals on a 5150 hold to private practicing licensed mental health professionals.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy. Access to voluntary mental and behavioral health support and services are key to preventing people from experiencing a crisis.
If a person is experiencing a crisis and needs to be placed on a 5150 hold, the decision should be made by professionals held to the highest standards. However, Senate Bill 402 lowers these standards by allowing private practicing licensed professionals to be eligible for county designation to write holds. These professionals do not need to be county employees or contractors, which creates a gap in accountability. Not all mental health professionals receive the same training or have experience with crisis response, and this bill does not ensure that the most qualified professionals are making these critical decisions.
Previously adopted legislation, Senate Bill 43 (Eggman), expanded the criteria for placing individuals on a 5150 hold to include those with a “severe substance use disorder” or a “co-occurring mental health disorder and a severe substance use disorder.” Under the current bill language, this expansion would allow a marriage and family therapist to write a hold for someone with a substance use disorder, which may not be appropriate given their training and experience.
This bill poses a variety of challenges regarding the accountability of hold writers and the applicability of the different types of licensed mental health professional to be writing holds during different types of mental and behavioral health crises. Furthermore, denying an individual of their civil rights is not conducive to the recovery of an individual and the decision should not be made by unqualified persons. For these reasons, we oppose Senate Bill 402. If you or your staff have any questions, or if Mental Health America of California can be of any assistance on this or any other behavioral health bill, please do not hesitate to contact me at hstrunk@mhac.org, or our Interim Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.
In Community,
Heidi Strunk President & CEO Mental Health America of California
The Honorable Angelique Ashby Chair, Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee 1021 O Street, Room 3320 Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: Support for AB 1991 (Bonta)
Dear Chair,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 1991 (Bonta), legislation which would require certain boards that regulate healing arts licensees or registrants to collect workforce data.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy. However, the behavioral health workforce shortage in California is a major barrier preventing people from receiving adequate care in a timely manner.
This bill will help the state address workforce needs by collecting accurate data such as a licensee’s or registrant’s type of employer (i.e. clinic, hospital, managed care organization, or private practice) and anticipated year of retirement. This information can help guide behavioral health workforces’ investments and the efficient use of current available staff. For this reason, we support AB 1991(Bonta) and ask for your “aye” vote. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Public Policy Director, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
The Honorable Richard D. Roth Senate Health Committee California State Senate 1021 O Street, Room 3310 Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: Support for AB 1842 (Reyes) Medication-Assisted Treatment
Dear Chair Roth,
Mental Health America of California is pleased to support AB 1842 (Reyes) which would prohibit a medical service plan and a health insurer from subjecting a naloxone product or another opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or a buprenorphine product or long-acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of a substance use disorder, to prior authorization or step therapy.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy.
Prior authorization protocols and step therapy can prevent people from receiving timely access to those voluntary mental and behavioral health services. With the increase in substance use and the surge in fentanyl overdose deaths, access to naloxone and other opioid antagonists is crucial for saving lives and supporting recovery. Prior authorization and step therapy impose unnecessary barriers to these life-saving resources, which should be readily accessible to those in need.
For these reasons, we support AB 1842 (Reyes). If you have any questions or if MHAC can be of assistance on this or any other behavioral health bill, please feel free to contact me or our Public Policy Director, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
