Position Category: MHAC

ACR 16 (Mike Fong) Opportunity Youth in California – Support

March 13, 2023

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

Re: ACR 16 (Mike Fong) Opportunity Youth in California – SUPPORT

Dear Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi,

On behalf of a diverse coalition of advocates, we are writing to express our strong support of ACR 16 Opportunity Youth in California.

Opportunity Youth (OY) are individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 that are not in school or working, including youth and young adults involved with the foster care, juvenile justice, and homelessness systems of care. They face unique employment, education, and training barriers that often do not align with efforts that center adults. Opportunity Youth facing socio-economic and systemic barriers are oftentimes disconnected from education and workforce training opportunities, preventing young people of color from accessing our state’s prosperity.

Data collected from the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) of the U.S. Census shows that in California there were 572,756 youth ages 16-24 who were neither in school nor at work (12.5% disconnection rate). Data also indicated the disconnection rate of Black teens and young adults (ages 16-24) was more than twice that of their White peers (22.3% and 10.9%, respectively). Black and Latinx adolescents not only are disproportionately more likely to come from low-income households and have experienced past trauma but are also faced with discrimination that can derail their physical and mental well-being. Additionally, despite declines in youth incarceration, significant gaps remain as youth of color are overrepresented in our criminal justice system. Prioritizing OY will not only expand their education and workforce opportunities but also expand the pool of talent that employers can access to meet their workforce needs.

ACR 16 encourages the State of California to create pathways to success for OY and the need to develop a statewide comprehensive plan that will reduce persistent economic inequities, and prioritize: (1) investments in education and workforce training programs that create pathways to good jobs; (2) expand innovative “earn and learn” opportunities such as apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and work-based learning opportunities; (3) advance dual enrollment implementation to allow OY to earn college credit while earning their high school equivalency; (4) ensure inclusivity of OY in the Cradle-to-Career Data System; (5) remove barriers to access student financial aid programs; and (6) protect social safety net investments that support basic needs such as food, housing, internet access, transportation, childcare, health, and mental health care – enabling OY to complete their education and training goals.

For these reasons, we strongly support ACR 16 and we look forward to our state leader’s support for this important resolution.

If there are any questions, please contact Anna Alvarado at aalvarado@caedge.org.

Sincerely,

Alliance for Children’s Rights
Erica Hickey
Policy Fellow

Bill Wilson Center
Josh Selo
CEO

California Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
Sarah Bedy
Director

California Children’s Trust
Alex Briscoe
Principal

California EDGE Coalition
Zima Creason
Executive Director

California Forward Action Fund
David Nelson
Executive Director

California Hospital Association
Peggy Wheeler
Vice President of Rural Health & Governance

California Opportunity Youth Network (COYN)
Sean Hughes
Policy Director

California Workforce Association
Bob Lanter
Executive Director

California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN)
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO

Center for Employment Training
Pascal Do
COO

Children Now
Danielle Wondra
Senior Policy & Outreach Associate, Child Welfare

City of San Jose
Sarah Zárate
Director, Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations, City of San Jose

Civicorps
Tessa Nicholas
Executive Director

Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Rita Medina
Deputy Director, State Policy & Advocacy

Coalition for Responsible Community Development
Mark Wilson
President & CEO

EntreNous Youth Empowerment Services
Sara Silva
Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director

Envision Your Pathway
Kendra Fujino
O’Donoghue Executive Director

Excite Credit Union
John Hogan
Vice President Community Relations

Foster Care Counts
Jeanne Pritzker
President

Foster Greatness
Colette Smith
Executive Director

GO Public Schools
Darcel Sanders
CEO

Goodwill Southern California
Dr. Luis B. Castañón
Strategic Impact Officer

Groundwork Social Sector Consulting
Joe Herrity
Principal

Growing Big Ideas
Shawna N Weir-Wright
Chief Possibilities Officer

iFoster
Serita Cox
CEO

John Burton Advocates for Youth
Amy Lemley
Executive Director

Juma Ventures
Adriane Armstrong
CEO

Kids in Common
Dana Bunnett
Executive Director

Lighthouse Silicon Valley
Quency Phillips
Executive Director

Linked Learning Alliance
Anne Stanton
President & CEO

Mental Health America of California
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO

New Door Ventures
Kevin Hickey
Chief Program Officer

New Ways to Work
Robert Sainz
President & Executive Director

Pivotal
Matt Bell
CEO

Regional Economic Association Leaders (REAL) Coalition
Cynthia Murray
REAL Coalition Education & Workforce Development Chair

San Diego Workforce Partnership
Nick DeVico
Director of Strategic Youth Initiatives

San Jose Conservation Corps and Charter School
Mayra Mejia
Director, CFET Youth Programs & Support Services

Santa Clara County Youth Action Board
Jocelyn Arenas
Board Member

Seen&Heard
Regan Williams
CEO

Small Business Majority
Bianca Blomquist
Political Director

Soledad Enrichment Action
Nathan Arias
President & CEO

The RightWay Foundation
Franco Vega
Founder & CEO

Alliance for Boys & Men of Color
Eric Morrison-Smith
Executive Director

UNITE-LA
Alysia Bell
President & CEO

Urban Strategies Council
David A. Harris
President & CEO

VOICES
Amber Twitchell
Director

Youth Will
Safia Haidari
Director of Policy Advocacy & Organizing

The Unity Council
Chris Iglesias
CEO

SB 274 (SKINNER) Eliminate Willful Defiance and Truancy Related Suspensions – Support

March 22, 2023

The Honorable Nancy Skinner
California State Assembly
1021 O St., Suite 8630
Sacramento CA 95814

Subject: SUPPORT for SB 274 (Skinner)

Dear Assembly Member Skinner:

Mental Health America of California is pleased to SUPPORT Senate Bill 274 (Skinner), legislation which would eliminate the sunset on willful defiance suspensions for middle school students and extend this safeguard to high school students. This measure would also prohibit the suspension or expulsion of any student based solely on truancy, tardy, or attendance records.

Mental Health America of California (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 ensure that people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, language, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, spirituality, religion, age or socioeconomic status who require mental health services and supports are able to live full and productive lives, receive the mental health services and other services that they need, and are not denied any other benefits, services, rights, or opportunities based on their need for mental health services. Along these lines, we promote policies that improve the mental health of children, youth, and adults.

As our youth progress through life, they will face developmental challenges. As a community that supports one another it is vital to our youth that we foster an environment which nurtures and supports them. Suspending our youth, taking them out of school, away from friends, adult role models, and resources because of something like willful defiance does not support or nurture them. For our youth that face mental health challenges it could potentially be life threatening. Eliminating willful defiance and attendance suspensions will ensure that proactive approaches, which positively address student behavior, will be put into place in our schools.

For these reasons, we SUPPORT SB 274. If you or your staff have any questions, or if Mental Health America of California can be of 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.

Sincerely,

Heidi Strunk
President & CEO
Mental Health America of California

SB 282 (EGGMAN) Same Day Medi-Cal Reimbursement – Support

March 23, 2023

The Honorable Susan Talamantes Eggman
California’s Senate District 5
1021 O Street, Suite 8530
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: SB 282 (Eggman) – SUPPORT

Dear Senator Eggman:

I write on behalf of Mental Health America of California in support of your Senate Bill 282 which will require Medi-Cal to reimburse providers for mental health services they provide to people, even if the mental health services are provided on the same day that person receives primary care services. Under current law California doesn’t allow Medi- Cal to reimburse for same day access to services, even when both a primary care and mental health visit are needed by a patient.

Mental Health America of California (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 ensure that people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, language, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, spirituality, religion, age or socioeconomic status who require mental health services and supports are able to live full and productive lives, receive the mental health services and other services that they need, and are not denied any other benefits, services, rights, or opportunities based on their need for mental health services. Along these lines, we support efforts which increase access to voluntary, culturally responsive, community- based behavioral health services.

According to the American Psychological Association, when patients receive treatment in primary care by a physician, only 10% will follow up on a referral to a mental health provider that is not co-located. This is especially true in lower income or more remote communities, where taking time off work and arranging transportation for in-person visits can become an insurmountable challenge. We also know that patients, especially those who are Black, Indigenous or people of color experience cultural norms and stigma that leads some to believe that mental health visits are less important and not needed, making it unlikely that the patient will return on a different day for their mental health visit. The ability to seamlessly coordinate care and create warm hand offs from a primary care provider to a mental health specialist on the same day, has proven highly effective in ensuring patients have access to care and will follow through with the recommended treatment.

SB 282 will ensure that people have access to timely mental health interventions in the primary care setting. This in turn will increase access to mental health care, improve outcomes, and save money in the long run.

For these reasons MHAC is proud to support SB 282 (Eggman).

If you have any questions, or if MHAC can be of assistance on this or any other behavioral health bill, please reach out to me or to our Interim Public Policy Director, Karen Vicari (kvicari@mhaofca.org)

Sincerely,

Heidi Strunk
President & CEO

cc: Senate Health Committee Members

AB 948 (BERMAN) Prescription Drug Copay Cap – Support

March 23, 2023

The Honorable Marc Berman
California State Assembly
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0023

RE: AB 948 (Berman) – Prescription Drug Copay Cap – SUPPORT

Dear Assemblymember Berman:

Mental Health America of California is pleased to SUPPORT Assembly Bill 948 (Berman), legislation which will make permanent the existing $250 co-pay cap for prescription drugs, ensuring consumers can count on their monthly prescription drug costs staying within reach. The bill also extends other key consumer protection standards for the tiering of prescription drugs in a health plan’s formulary.

Mental Health America of California (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 ensure that people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, language, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, spirituality, religion, age or socioeconomic status who require mental health services and supports are able to live full and productive lives, receive the mental health services and other services that they need, and are not denied any other benefits, services, rights, or opportunities based on their need for mental health services. Along these lines, we support efforts which increase access to voluntary, culturally responsive, community-based behavioral health services.

Before the $250 cost-sharing cap was signed into law with AB 339 (Gordon, Chapter 619 of 2015), Californians with serious mental health challenges were particularly vulnerable to high out-of- pocket costs because more expensive specialty drugs were often put on the highest tier of the formulary, costing thousands of dollars. Just filling one prescription in January meant consumers often reached their annual out-of-pocket limit of $6,000 for that single prescription in one month.

Since 2015, prescription drug costs have increased significantly – 22.2% over the last five years, or about 5% each year. As prescription drug prices rise, more and more consumers’ prescription drugs will hit the $250 cost-sharing cap, increasing the number of Californians who will be counting on this consumer protection to keep costs lower. If the co-pay cap sunsets at the end of 2023, more costs will be shifted to consumers. People that need high-cost prescription drugs could be charged up to the out-of-pocket maximum for a 30-day prescription; the 2023 out-of-pocket maximum is $8,750 for Silver Plans, and is expected to increase in 2024.

Prescription drug costs are one of many barriers preventing people with mental health challenges from receiving necessary treatment. AB 948 will continue an existing policy that has made it possible for significant numbers of people with mental health challenges to afford their medication.

For these reasons, we SUPPORT Assembly Bill 948. If you or your staff have any questions or if MHAC can be of assistance on this or any 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

AB 289 (HOLDEN) Mental Health Services Act – Support

February 23, 2023

The Honorable Chris Holden
California State Assembly
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0041

RE: SUPPORT AB 289 (Holden) – Mental Health Services Act

Dear Assembly Member Holden:

On behalf of Mental Health America of California (MHAC), I write to express our strong support for AB 289 (Holden), which would require youth and youth mental health organizations to be added to the list of stakeholders who must be included in discussions with counties as they develop their Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) three-year plans and annual updates.

Mental Health America of California (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 ensure that people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, language, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, spirituality, religion, age or socioeconomic status who require mental health services and supports are able to live full and productive lives, receive the mental health services and other services that they need, and are not denied any other benefits, services, rights, or opportunities based on their need for mental health services. Along these lines, we support efforts which increase access to voluntary, appropriate, culturally responsive, mental health services for all Californians.

The MHSA was written to transform California’s Public Mental Health System by prioritizing, among other things, extensive stakeholder involvement in the development, implementation, and evaluation of MHSA-funded county programs and services. The reasoning behind this is that each county will have different community needs, and the stakeholders living in the community are the most knowledgeable about the needs and service gaps within their own communities.

The behavioral health needs of Youth and Transition Age Youth (TAY) require services which are often separate and distinct from the services utilized by adults. For this reason, to ensure that MHSA-funded services in each county are responsive to the needs of youth, it is important that youth and youth mental health organizations be required stakeholders in county MHSA planning.

For these reasons, MHAC is in strong support of AB 289. If you have any questions and or if Mental Health America of California can be of any assistance on this or any other behavioral health bill, please contact me or our Interim Director of Public Policy Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhaofca.org.

In Community,

Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO