Op-ed explains mission creep and other problems plaguing MHSA

Summary of Problems with Mental Health Services Act

Insider dealing in MHSA

Voters wanted Proposition 63/Mental Health Services Act(MHSA) to help the most seriously mentally ill

Overview: How MHSA Prevention and Early Intervention Funds were diverted from people with mental illness

Examples of statewide misspending on ineffective programs that do not to help people with serious mental illness

County by county misuse of MHSA Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Funds

Full Service Partnerships (FSP) $2.5 billion unaccounted for

$10 million in MHSA funds go to prevent treatment for the most seriously ill

Who is Responsible for Diverting MHSA (Darrell Steinberg, County MH Directors, Mental Health Industry, Oversight Commissioners)

County Behavioral Healthcare Directors use Stakeholder Input to Divert Funds from Serious Mental Illness

Oversight Commission uses regulatory process to divert MHSA Funds from people with serious mental illness

How to fix problems with Mental Health Services Act (Replace Commissioners with new ones that don’t have conflicts of interest)

Additional Findings

• The state auditor found that because the Oversight Commissioners failed to provide oversight, taxpayers do not know if MHSA funds were spent effectively or efficiently.
• County Behavioral Health Directors chaired meetings that allowed “stakeholder input” to trump the legislative language and voter intent to spend the funds on those with serious mental illness.
• No attempt is made to ensure programs receiving MHSA funds serve people with serious mental illness.(FN1)
• MHSA funds are being lavished on studies, reports, and consultants that generate jobs for those who get the contracts, but not services for people with serious mental illness. (FN 2)
• Millions were diverted to programs intended to ‘improve the wellness’ of all Californians, rather than provide treatment to Californians with serious mental illnesses. (FN3)
• Funds failed to expand the capacity of proven existing programs as the legislation required.
• The most important programs to help the most seriously ill (like Laura’s Law) are going unfunded.
• The Oversight Commission evaluated counties based on what they said they were going to do rather than on what they did.
• A series of amendments and related legislation introduced by legislators made it less likely MHSA funds will ever reach people with serious mental illness. (FN4)

5/7/15: Our response to new MHSOAC regs designed to divert PEI MHSA funds from people with mental illness

2015: Little Hoover Commission says there’s no oversight of $13 billion MHSA funds

2012: California State Auditor Report Finds Lack of Oversight

2011: Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) became “Bait & Switch”

2015: New Regs proposed (8/14) to drive MHSA funds away from people with serious mental illness

Dec 2013: Sen. Darrell Steinberg asks taxpayers to pay twice for same program

Dec 2013: Op-ed urges Jerry Brown to replace MHSA Oversight Commissioners to restore integrity

Letter to Jerry Brown: State auditors found oversight commisioners failed. Replace them.

October 2013: Our proposed Changes to Prevention/Early Intervention Regs

Why doesn’t the public know about this?

$11 million in MHSA funds went to hire a P.R. firm that works to convince the media that all is well. They continually issue press releases and call editorial boards to extol the virtues of the program. County mental health directors and recipients of the diverted funds benefit from the status quo and therefore defend it. Governor Brown and Senator Steinberg appointed recipients of MHSA funds who represent the mental health and social service industries to sit on the Oversight Commission. As a result of this conflict, MHSA is being overseen by cheerleaders for mission creep, rather than stewards of the public purse. This is not what voters wanted to happen or were told would happen. Money is not the issue. Leadership is.