Mental Health Services Act Advisory Committee

In March 2005, San Francisco began its implementation of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) with the establishment by the Mayor of a 40-member citywide taskforce. The Behavioral Health Innovations (BHI) Task Force, headed by the Deputy Director of Health, led the planning process and assisted in the development of San Francisco’s three-year plan for MHSA funds by identifying and prioritizing mental health needs. The BHI Task Force was selected through a month long application process to provide representation and leadership for San Francisco’s planning process.

At the end of the initial planning process, all the task force members were requested to apply for membership in the new MHSA Advisory Committee. About half of the defunct task force are now members of the MHSA Advisory Committee and additional members have been recruited to ensure diverse community representation. About thirty percent of the current membership is comprised of individuals who have or have had personal experience as consumers of mental health services.

The MHSA Advisory Committee meets every two months, alternating between committee meetings and community forums. These meetings and forums serve as platforms to discuss the progress of the MHSA implementation and provide updates about further State implementation of the other components of MHSA. During the community forums, the public is invited to speak about their ideas, suggestions, or critiques of the implementation process. The MHSA Advisory Committee holds these community forums at different locations within the city to encourage participation and to gain recognition of MHSA services within that neighborhood.

Advisory Committee: