Skip to main content Skip to site navigation
San Mateo County Health
Helping everyone in San Mateo County live longer & better lives.
Menu
Search
Header link

Español

El departamento de salud, Health System, ofrece muchos servicios en español y pronto estará traducido nuestro sitio web. Hasta entonces, le pedimos que llame a estos números para obtener más información sobre nuestros servicios y programas en español.

Encuentre un médico o reciba atención en el hospital, San Mateo Medical Center: (650) 573-2222

Servicios para adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades, incluidas la atención en casa, la protección contra abuso o robo, y provisión de comidas saludables: (800) 675-8437

San Mateo County MHSA (Prop 63)

Overview

Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63)

​Sign up to receive e-mail updates for this page

The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), Proposition 63 in 2004, provides increased funding, personnel and other resources to support County behavioral health programs and monitor progress toward statewide goals for children, transition-age youth, adults, older adults and families. MHSA addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention and direct service needs and the necessary infrastructure, technology and training elements that will effectively support this system.

We are thrilled to have you as a visitor, and hope you will want to become involved in MHSA planning!

Announcements

Digital Literacy for Peers and Community Tech Cafe’s

In response to feedback received via the Race & COVID Town Halls and peer staff that are distribution devices to clients, the following trainings have been organized to support digital literacy:

Community Tech Cafe’s (April/May 2021) are for clients and community members, anyone who need basic technology device supports, downloading apps, setting up e-mail and basic use of telehealth and Zoom.

Digital Literacy Training for Peers (June 2021) is technical support to equip peer and family partners that are distributing devices to clients.

There will also be a series of more advanced Zoom trainings (flyer coming soon). 

Annual Update at the next MHSA Steering Committee meeting

The MHSA Annual Update will be presented to the MHSA Steering Committee and cover available funding, program highlights and outcomes for the past year.  MHSA meetings are open to the public and scheduled for the first Thursday at 3pm in February, May, September and December.  Download the flyer for more details.

  • MHSA Steering Committee 
    May 6, 2021 at 3pm
    Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83216209789
    Dial in: +1 669 900 6833
    Meeting ID: 832 1620 9789
    iPhone one-tap: +16699006833,,83216209789#

Housing Initiative Taskforce + Materials

The recent MHSA Three-Year Plan prioritizes housing as an area to engage in deeper strategic planning and guide future MHSA funding allocations. A time-limited Housing Initiative Taskforce has been convening the first Wednesday in March, April and May. Materials are available below:

​Background information:

​FREE Headspace App for San Mateo County!

This year has affected all of us in different ways. Headspace and San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services are working together to provide free resources that can help residents weather this storm. If you live, work or go to school in San Mateo County, sign up to access Headspace meditations, sleep sounds, and movement exercises designed to help you care for your mind — all free through August 2021 .

You must enroll first: www.headspace.com/smchealth

MHSA Ongoing Planning – How to Get Involved

The best way to learn about how to get involved in MHSA ongoing program planning is to sign up to receive email updates; link above on this webpage. When new programs need to be developed, we often work through BHRS standing committees and will announce these opportunities here on the MHSA website and to our MHSA email subscribers.

Questions/Comments:

Send your questions/comments to Doris Estremera, MHSA Manager:

  • Email: mhsa@smcgov.org / phone: (650) 573-2889
  • Mail: 310 Harbor Blvd, Bldg. E, Belmont CA 94002
  • Optional Public Comment Form

For the most current BHRS updates, which include MHSA funded programs, view the monthly Director’s Report  provided to the MHSARC Commission and/or subscribe to the BHRS Blog.  To keep informed of funding opportunities visit and subscribe to the Request for Proposal website.

MHSA Planning in San Mateo County

MHSA planning, implementation and updates happen on a Fiscal Year (FY) calendar July 1 – June 30. Counties are required to conduct a thorough Community Program Planning (CPP) process, submit a Three-Year Plan and Annual Updates.   

Current Three-Year Plan Due: June 30, 2020
Current Three-Year Implementation Phase: July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023
Annual Updates Due: June 30th each year
Next Three-Year Planning Phase: January 2023 – April 2023
Next Three-Year MHSA Plan Due: June 30, 2023

MHSA Issue Resolution Process Policy

An Issue Resolution Process (IRP) Policy has been adopted to resolve specific MHSA issues related to: 

  1. The Community Program Planning (CPP) process
  2. Consistency between approved MHSA plans and program implementation
  3. The provision of MHSA-funded programs and services

In San Mateo County, the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs (OCFA) manages service/treatment grievances for BHRS and therefore MHSA issues will be routed through the formal OCFA Grievance process. The MHSA IRP is focused on grievances related to the planning and implementation of MHSA.

Community Program Planning (CPP) Process

How to Give Public Comment

Check out the How to Give Public Comment quick tips- adapted from CAMHPRO’s Delivering the ABC’s of Advocacy training.

Three-Year Plan Development, FY 20/21 through FY 21/23 

The MHSA Three-Year Plan was developed in collaboration with clients and families, community members, staff, community agencies and stakeholders.  Over 400 participated in the planning through surveys, input sessions and key interviews.

Assembly Bill (AB) 114 Plan to Spend Reallocated Funds 

The San Mateo County’s proposed AB 114 Plan to Spend Reallocated Funds was approved by the our Board of Supervisors on August 7, 2018. 

Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI) Planning

Between October-December 2017, a taskforce of PEI experts, leaders, clients/consumers and family, and community members was convened to develop recommendations for children 0-25.   

Priority Matrix and Agreement Results

 

Steering Committee

2021 MHSA Steering Committee Meetings

The 2021 MHSA Steering Committee meetings are now scheduled for the first Thursday at 3pm in February, May, September and December.  MHSA meetings are open to the public to provide input, make recommendations and stay up-to-date on new MHSA developments and ongoing programming. 

The MHSA Steering Committee makes recommendations about the planning and services funded by MHSA and assures that MHSA planning reflects local diverse needs and priorities and meets the goals established. View the current Steering Committee Membership list and the Roles and Responsibilities document for more details.

If you are interested in joining, please complete a Steering Committee Application:

Download the application and submit by email to mhsa@smcgov.org.

Evaluation

Full Service Partnerships

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) supports evaluation and analyses of the San Mateo County FSP Programs outcomes. Following are the annual FSP Outcome Findings Reports:

In 2014, our Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs were evaluated to understand how well FSPs are working from the perspective of administrators, providers and consumers/clients.

Prevention & Early Intervention 

AIR also supports evaluation and analyses of the MHSA Outreach Collaboratives . Following are the annual reports:

Additional program evaluation and impact reports:

Innovation (INN)

Evaluation Reports for current MHSA Innovation projects are now available: 

Workforce Education and Training (WET)

A WET one-time funding allocation was received in Fiscal Years 2006 to 2008, with a ten-year time frame to expend the funds. 

Statewide MHSA Evaluation Reports 

Three-Year Plans, Updates and Revenue & Expenditure Reports

MHSA Three-Year Plan & Annual Update

Annual Revenue and Expenditure Reports (ARER)

MHSA Components

Community Services & Supports (CSS)

CSS activities focus on providing direct services and treatment to people of all ages living with serious mental illness. At least 51% of CSS dollars have to be spent on full service partnerships, which provide 24/7 wraparound services.

Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI)

PEI activities target individuals of all ages prior to the onset of mental illness, with the one exception of programs focusing on early onset of psychotic disorders. Learn more about the Office of Diversity and Equity, the Stigma Free San Mateo County; the Suicide Prevention Committee; Prevention & Recovery in Early Psychosis (PREP); Youth Crisis Intervention; and the San Mateo County Mental Health Assessment and Referral Team (SMART).

MHSA PEI also funds the following Community Interventions for School Age and TAY programs:

  • Early Childhood Community Team – supporting social emotional development in child care settings by providing consultation to child care providers.
  • Trauma-Informed Co-Occurring Services for Youth - evidence-based or promising practice intervention/curriculum to address trauma and co-occurring substance use issues with youth.
  • Project SUCCESS – preventing and reducing substance use and abuse and associated behavioral issues among high risk, multi-problem adolescents.
  • Teaching Pro-Social Skills -  addressing the social skills needs of students in public elementary schools who display aggression or other problem behaviors. 

Innovation (INN)

The MHSA INN component allows counties to apply for funds for innovative projects that are designed and implemented for a defined time period and evaluated to develop new best practices in mental health services and supports.

New Innovation Project Proposals

Five MHSA Innovation Projects were approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 7th and are now the awaiting final approval by the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Committee (MHSOAC) approval.  The full project proposals are linked below and include public comments and letters of support received.

Behavioral Health Technology-based Interventions

San Mateo County joined a statewide collaborative Help@Hand to pilot behavioral health online apps as a complimentary support system offering a bridge to care and removing some barriers clients or family members may face when seeking conventional mental health services. 

Advisory Committees for both older adults and transition age youth meet monthly to guide the implementation, customization and evaluation of this project. 

Previous INN Projects

On July 2016, three INN projects were approved by the State:

On March 28, 2019 the Pride Center was approved for a two-year  funding extension.  On September 9, 2019, a one year extension request was approved for HAP-Y and NMT in an Adult System of Care, at no additional cost. 

Total Wellness Program

From 2010 through June 2015, BHRS built on several emerging, innovative practices for mental health and physical health integration in developing the Total Wellness Program

Workforce Education & Training (WET)

WET programming includes training, education, programs and policies to assist in the engagement and selection of a diverse workforce that includes consumers, families, and community members and schools. Visit the BHRS WET website to learn more about the programs and services.

MHSA WET received one-time funding from MHSA for up to 10 years, which is ending in June 2018 for San Mateo County.  We are currently working with an independent contractor to develop a 10 year MHSA WET impact report and a sustainability plan for evaluation of the MHSA INN projects.  The planning process has begun and we will share updates as they become available.

Housing

The MHSA Housing Program was established to create permanent supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and are enrolled in Full Service Partnerships, receiving wraparound services and supports. Since 2006, the funding has supported 62 housing units across four housing developments in Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Mateo and North Fair Oaks community.

Most recently, BHRS contributed the last of the MHSA Housing dollars, about $1.1 million, to the Affordable Housing Fund administered by the Department of Housing, which led to 12 additional MHSA units expected in 2019.

Visit our MHSA Housing Program for more information.

Capital Facilities & Information Technology (CF & IT)

CF&IT component funded eClinical Care, an integrated business and clinical information system (electronic health record) as well as ongoing technical support.