Orange County Kicks-Off Proposition 63
Planning Process
(Santa Ana) –
The kick-off of Orange County’s planning efforts for Proposition 63 – The
Mental Health Services Act – will be held Wednesday, January 26, 2005 with
information sessions to be held from 3-5 p.m. and again from 6-8 p.m. in the
Mother Louis Room of the St. Joseph’s Justice Center, 480 S. Batavia,
Orange.Orange County’s Proposition 63 Kick-Off Celebration is an
opportunity to discuss MHSA guidelines and outline a proposed planning
process that will allow maximum participation by mental health consumers,
families, providers, key agency partners, advocates and other stakeholders.
One of the key elements will be the development of a MHSA Steering Committee
and a number of working groups that will focus on individual parts of the
initiative. Among those participating in the kick-off event will be Maureen
Kochen, RN, County Mental Health Board Chairman; Mark Refowitz, Health Care
Agency Deputy Agency Director for Behavioral Health Services; and other
members of the Mental Health Board.
Proposition 63 was approved by California voters in November 2004 and
became law on January 1, 2005, providing a unique opportunity to transform
the public mental health system in Orange County. Through the Mental Health
Services Act (MHSA), local counties will receive funding to expand mental
health services and develop innovative programs for mentally ill children,
adults and older adults.
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