The Center hosted a Mental Health Community Forum on May 25, designed to aid the county of San Diego as they seek input into how to distribute funds that will be received under Proposition 63, known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). The MHSA became law on Jan. 1, after California voters approved the measure in November. The new state law will bring up to $40 million additional funds for county mental health services in San Diego.

In 2003-04, the county saw approximately 40,000 adult clients and 18,000 children and adolescents through outpatient services, recovery services, case management, inpatient 24-hour psychiatric services and self-help centers. The 2004-05 operating budget for county mental health services includes $127 million allocated for adults and $80.3 million for children.

Virginia West, program manager for the San Diego County mental health services department, overviewed MHSA to a group of 30 people, noting how a majority of San Diego County residents in last November’s election did not support the act, although it still passed throughout the rest of the state.

The complete budget for all age groups is about $207 million, West said. Additional funding from Prop 63 would increase that budget by 15-20 percent.

State Senator Christine Kehoe, who was unable to attend the forum, sent a letter urging the county of San Diego to prioritize funding for GLBT mental health services.

“Because many LGBT San Diegans do not feel safe seeking mental health services from mainstream service providers, it is imperative that LGBT service providers receive funding specifically for mental health services,” Kehoe wrote.

She also noted the growing crystal meth addiction problem in San Diego, and said “we need targeted programs that educate LGBT San Diegans about the consequences of crystal meth use and addiction, and we need funding for treatment.”

The MHSA provides new funding for mental health services for children, transition-age youth, adults and seniors statewide. The target population includes those with low income, as well as individuals with serious mental illness and severe emotional problems. The additional funding comes from a 1-percent tax increase for residents of California whose personal income level exceeds $1 million. The funding should be distributed by this winter, West said.

West said the purpose of Prop 63 is to create new services and expand existing services to be consistent with recovery principles and client- and family-driven services, transforming the mental health system overall.

“The intention is not to back-fill any programs that have been cut in the past few years because of budget cuts and the fact that the law specifically prohibits any supplanting of funds or current funding,” said West. “We have to create new services and really expand services and order them in ways that will reach the communities that are determined to be unserved and underserved.”

West said that the state performed gap analysis research to identify which groups are unserved and underserved and has estimated children 12 and under, transitional youth ages 18-24, adults over 60, Latinos of all ages and Asian/Pacific Islanders of all ages are part of that group in San Diego County. The underserved group is different in that they do receive some services but not enough, West said.

The states estimated that over 77,000 people may need mental health services in San Diego County. In 2003-04 the county served 58,000 people, leaving a gap of 19,000 people who may need services.

“This forum was a wonderful opportunity for LGBT San Diegans to directly convey to government funders our need for culturally-competent, low-fee mental health services for our community,” said Delores Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center.

“Study after study and multiple needs assessments confirm that our community has needs for service that are not adequately addressed by the current system of care,” Jacobs continued. “Our community is grappling with a desperate need for substance abuse treatment, particularly for those abusing methamphetamine; homeless youth badly need services; women report difficulty finding low-fee family supportive care; and seniors report a lack of LGBT-educated and affirmative low-fee providers. Our hope is that the community was heard and that some of this new funding can be set aside for programs that can address these critical community needs and for further training for traditional providers.”

Heather Berberet, director of mental health services for Walden Family Services, voiced her concern for the GLBT community as a whole.

“Essentially we’re invisible, and I think that’s the main problem with the county and the LGBT community,” she said.

Berberet also advocated for transitional youth aged 18-24. “Again like the rest of the LGBT population, the county does nothing, no targeted services, no targeted outreach, no requirements for training, nothing,” she said.

The Center has a waiting list of up to three months for mental health services, as the demand outweighs the supply.

“On a very real level, we know how great the need is for improved low-fee mental health services for our community,” said Dr. Carrie Morrison, clinical coordinator of The Center’s Mental Health Services. “We continually have LGBT people on our waiting lists that are too long at The Center. Although San Diego has an outstanding cadre of LGBT-affirmative private mental health treatment providers, many of the people who cannot afford services from a private practice practitioner often go untreated.”

Morrison said having a comfortable, open provider/client relationship is a must for adequate care.

“Many of the people who are accessing services at The Center report they are reluctant to use other government funded, low-fee or no-fee services because of negative experiences or their fear of provider ignorance and lack of training,” she said.

Various Prop 63 discussion workgroups are taking place throughout San Diego County. Composed of 30-40 individuals, the focus groups help to decide how to prioritize the input the county is receiving from public forums targeting unserved and underserved populations, which started in March and end June 10.

West estimated the county is expecting to submit their plan outlining to the state where the funds should be distributed by late July or early August. She said that plan would most likely be made public on the county’s Web site before it is submitted in order to obtain additional input.