Issues, Policy and Legislation

The passage of Prop 1 has created a shift toward clinical services. Of the 35% of BHSA dollars set aside for Behavioral Health Services and Support, 17.15% are Flexible. Because people consistently say they want access to non-clinical services in their communities, it is essential that the State and Counties invest a minimum of 10% of BHSA funding in to non-Medi-Cal Peer Services by contracting with Peer-Run organizations.

As California Counties scale Peer Services, it is essential that counties contract with community-based Peer-Run organizations to deliver the services, employ the workforce and bill Medi-Cal through the Counties. Peer Services have been shown to be more effective when delivered by organizations aligned with the values and practices of Peer Services. Smaller Peer-Run organizations must also be enabled to participate in Medi-cal funding. And given extra support generally to protect their contribution to the diversity and uniqueness of services in our community.

In encounters between civilians and the police there are higher rates of death for African Americans and for those who have mental health challenges. We cannot allow this to continue and we must press for a solution.

California needs to rapidly increase the behavioral health workforce, and has created a statewide certification for Peer Support Specialists. Thousands of Peer Support Specialists are being trained and need jobs where they can be effective in the practice and implementation of Peer Support Services. These jobs need to be paid at a living wage.

California’s federal funding for mental health and substance use is delivered through SAMHSA, which created the Office of Recovery to ensure that systems and practices are shifting to a Recovery-Oriented system of care. Recovery is possible for everyone. 2/3 of people in the U.S. with a mental health diagnosis define themselves as being in recovery. 70% of people in the U.S. with a substance use issue report themselves to be in recovery. To be effective in dealing with these issues, it is essential that California develops a Statewide Office of Recovery and Peer Services.

The model proposed for homeless housing will not have equitable results. We need to press for justice for individuals of color and for other marginalized communities. And insist on a recovery model.

Peer Respites are an alternative to psychiatric hospitalizations, available voluntarily in communities, and can be used to prevent crisis, during crisis, or post crisis. They are scalable at a fraction of the cost of hospital beds and have been shown to decrease future hospitalizations at a fraction of the cost.

• SB 402 (Wahab) broadens who can involuntarily institutionalize us.

• SB 1238 (Eggman) extends who is considered gravely disabled and can therefore be involuntarily institutionalized.

• SB1184 (Eggman) further limits your rights to refuse medication.

• SB 48 (Umberg) limits your rights to privacy.