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Innovation

About Us

An innovative project is defined, for purposes of the CA Department of Mental Health (DMH) guidelines, as one that contributes to learning rather than one with a primary focus on providing a service. By providing the opportunity to “try out” new approaches that can inform current and future practices/approaches in communities, an Innovation project contributes to learning in one or more of the following three ways:

  1. Introduce a mental health practice or approach that is new to the overall mental health system, including, but not limited to, prevention and early intervention; 
  2. Make a change to an existing practice in the field of mental health, including, but not limited to, application to a different population;
  3. Apply to the mental health system a promising community-driven practice or approach that has been successful in non-mental health contexts or settings.
The Innovation (INN) programs are research projects to evaluate the effectiveness of new approaches and practices. By their very nature, not all INN projects will be successful. Innovation projects are expected to be about one to three years long - although in some instances the length of the project may be extended up to five years. A thorough evaluation of each project will be conducted and the findings disseminated. Those projects deemed “unsuccessful” will be discontinued. To continue those projects showing positive outcomes, another funding source must be identified.

In addition to contributing to learning, all of the current Orange County Innovation Projects serve one or more of the following purposes:
  1. Increase access to underserved groups
  2. Increase the quality of services, including better outcomes
  3. Promote interagency collaboration
  4. Increase access to services

Visit www.ocmhsa.com to learn more about the  Mental Health Services Act and Orange County Innovation projects.

Projects

Round 3

Round 2

  • Behavioral Health Services for Independent Living
  • Strong Families-Strong Children: Behavioral Health Services for Military Families - Moved to Prevention and Intervention July 2019
  • Religious Leaders Behavioral Health Training Services - Discontinued on 6/30/2019
  • Step Forward:  On-Site Engagement in Collaborative Courts - Discontinued on 11/30/2019

Round 1

  • ICS-Community — Moved to Community Services and Support February 2016
  • ICS-County — Moved to Community Services and Support February 2016
  • OC4VETS — Moved to Prevention & Intervention March 2016  
  • Training to Meet the Needs of the Deaf Community — Discontinued on 6/30/2014
  • Orange County Community Cares Project — Discontinued on 6/30/2014 
  • Volunteer to Work — Transferred to Community Services and Support on 7/1/2015
  • Brighter Futures — Discontinued on 12/31/2015
  • Collective Solutions — Discontinued on 12/31/2015
  • Project Life Coach — Discontinued on 12/31/2015 

Links