4440 Department of Mental Health
Program Descriptions

10 - COMMUNITY SERVICES

The Community Services Program coordinates delivery of mental health treatment and support services. Community Services sets overall policy for the delivery of mental health services statewide; develops and oversees performance contracts with county mental health departments; monitors compliance with state and federal statutes; and administers various state-funded programs and projects. Funding assists counties in providing a broad array of mental health treatment and rehabilitative services in a local setting that promotes recovery and integration into the community for clients with mental illness and children and youth with serious emotional disturbance. Producing measurable outcomes is essential to the success of the Community Services Program. This includes consumer satisfaction strategies and enhancing cost-effectiveness by improving clinical efficacy, implementing recovery principles, and valuing a coordinated services approach to serving children, youth, adults, and older adults.

Community Services also provides statewide leadership and oversight for implementation of the Mental Health Services Act, which funds various local programs that expand community mental health services to children, youth, adults and older adults who have severe mental illnesses. Efforts include:
  • Expand recovery and resiliency mental heath services to children, youth, adults and older adults who have severe mental illnesses.
  • Implement the Prevention and Early Intervention program to reduce stigma, conduct outreach on recognizing early signs of mental illness, and reduce negative mental health outcomes such as suicide, incarceration, homelessness, school failure, unemployment and foster care.
  • Develop innovative programs to improve access to high-quality mental health services.
  • Expand capital facilities and address technology needs.
  • Recruit, retain, and train additional staff to provide mental health services.