In response to the call for national action to reduce mental health disparities, DMH and the MHSOAC, in partnership with the California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA) and the California Mental Health Planning Council, have called for a key statewide policy initiative as a means to improve access, quality of care, and increase positive outcomes to racial, ethnic and cultural communities.

In 2007, the MHSOAC approved a statewide project for Ethnic and Cultural Specific Programs and Interventions at the funding level of $60 million over four years (See Table 1). This effort is focused on five populations:

• African Americans
• Asian/Pacific Islanders
• Latinos
• Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ)
• Native Americans

The means by which this statewide project will be implemented, and by which entities, have not yet been determined. The design and direction of the statewide project is contingent upon the development of a strategic plan. DMH has the authority to use $1.5 million of state-administrative MHSA funds (See Table 2) to fund the California Reducing Disparities Project (CDRP) that will develop a comprehensive strategic plan to guide the design of this statewide project and to establish a MHSA Multicultural Coalition.

In January 2009, MHSOAC voted in support of the California CDRP. To carry out this project, the DMH will issue three RFPs:

1. Strategic Planning Workgroups: One RFP will be issued to fund five Reducing Disparities Strategic Planning Workgroups. Up to five separate contracts will be issued – one for each of the five targeted population groups – to develop recommendations from their respective communities towards the development of a comprehensive California Reducing Disparities (CRD) Strategic Plan on how to design a statewide project to eliminate barriers and reduce mental health disparities.

   Plan to be completed in approx. 18 - 24 months

   

2. CA MHSA Multicultural Coalition: A second RFP will be issued to fund an CAA MHSA Multicultural Coalition. This advisory body will serve as a new vehicle for unserved and underserved racial, ethnic, and cultural communities to address a variety of mental health issues and provide their recommendations at the state level on all of the MHSA components and related activities. The membership of this Coalition will include representatives from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural-specific populations across the age span from different regions of the state. Representatives from the five population groups targeted by the Reducing Disparities (RD) Strategic Planning Workgroups will also participate. When the strategic plan is approved, the CA MHSA Multicultural Coalition will assist with implementation training and other support activities.
   
3. RDP Facilitator/Writer: And lastly, the CRDP Facilitator/Writer will be issued to fund a single proposer who will coordinate, facilitate and compile the input and recommendations of the five (5) Strategic Planning Workgroup contractors into a comprehensive CRD Strategic Plan. The contractor will also work with the MHSA Multicultural Coalition and other stakeholders.
   

Strategic Planning Worgroups

• Request for Proposal
• Notice of Intent to Award

CA MHSA Multicultural Coalition

• Request for Proposal Coming Soon!

CRDP Facilitator/Writer

• Request for Proposal Coming Soon!