Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the Advisory Board are as follows:

(1) Review and evaluate the community's behavioral health needs, services, facilities, and special problems in any facility within the county or jurisdiction where mental health and/or substance use disorder evaluations or services are being provided, including, but not limited to, schools, emergency departments and psychiatric facilities.

(2) Review any annual county behavioral health services performance contract entered into pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 5650. The local behavioral health advisory board may make recommendations to the governing body regarding concerns identified within these agreements.

(3) Advise the Board of Supervisors and the Behavioral Health Director as to any aspect of the local behavioral health program.  This may include but is not limited to: New service needs in the community, newly implemented services, challenges/barriers to services, complaints and or concerns.  

(4) Review and approve the procedures used to ensure citizen and professional involvement at all stages of the planning process.  Involvement may include individuals with lived experience of mental illness or substance use disorders and their families, community members, advocacy organizations, and mental health professionals.  It may also include other professionals that interact with individuals living with mental illnesses or substance use disorders on a daily basis, such as education, emergency services, employment, health care, housing, law enforcement, local business owners, social services, seniors, transportation, and veterans. 

(5) Submit an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the needs and performance of the County's mental health system. This may include but is not limited to: Subcommittee participation to create the annual report. The annual report will be completed based on the calendar year, and will be presented to the Board by outgoing chairperson in June.

(6) Review and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on applications for appointment of a director of behavioral health services. The Advisory Board shall be included in the selection process prior to the vote of the Board of Supervisors.  

(7) Review and comment on the County's performance outcome data and communicate its findings to the Board of Supervisors and the California Mental Health Planning Council and State Department of Alcohol and Other Drugs.

(8) Other duties as assigned or delegated by the Board of Supervisors. 

Membership Composition

The Board shall be comprised of the following ten (10) members:
• Only one (1) member shall be a member of the Board of Supervisors 
• At least two (2) members shall be consumers
• At least two (2) members shall be family members of consumers
• At least five (5) members shall be from a combination of family member of consumer and consumers of which at least one (1) members shall be 25 years or younger
• Only one (1) member shall be a Veteran or Veteran Advocate
• Only one (1) member shall be an employee of a local education agency

Applicants must meet the specific representations of the position in which the vacancy exists.

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Application (Use General Application)