Orange County is grappling with reduced funding for mental health services following the approval of Proposition 1 last March. This change requires counties to reallocate mental health funds towards homeless services and housing, as reported by the Voice of OC. Consequently, Orange County expects over $100 million less from the Mental Health Services Act this year.
The funding cuts have led to difficult decisions, such as the potential termination of a long-standing contract with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, which runs a suicide prevention hotline. The county is considering shifting support services to the OC Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, which is already approved to bill Medi-Cal, thereby reducing costs. According to Ian Kemmer, the county’s behavioral health director, this move is necessary due to the financial constraints imposed by Proposition 1.
Proposition 1, which was analyzed by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, increases the state’s share of the Mental Health Services Act tax, thereby reducing county funds. The proposition mandates that counties allocate more funds to housing and support services for those with mental health issues, potentially impacting other mental health services.
Orange County supervisors have not yet finalized their decision on the contract, requesting a proposal that might allow both Didi Hirsch and the OC Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance to receive funding. As Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento noted, the changes are a direct result of Proposition 1, emphasizing the need for providers to be Medi-Cal certified to ensure sustainability.
Recent Comments