Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)

About the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)

The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) was passed by California voters in 2004 as Proposition 63. It is funded by a 1% income tax on personal income in excess of $1 million per year.

MHSA is designed to expand and transform California's behavioral health system to better serve individuals with, and at risk of, serious mental health issues, and their families. MHSA addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention and service needs and the necessary infrastructure, technology and training elements that effectively support the public behavioral health system.

Components of MHSA

Community Services & Support (CSS)

Community Services and Support (CSS) is the largest component of the MHSA. The CSS component is focused on community collaboration, cultural competence, client and family-driven services and systems, wellness focus, which includes concepts of recovery and resilience, integrated service experiences for clients and families, as well as serving the unserved and underserved. Housing is also a large part of the CSS component.

Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI)

The goal of the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) component of the MHSA is to help counties implement services that promote wellness, foster health, and prevent the suffering that can result from untreated mental illness. The PEI component requires collaboration with consumers and family members in the development of PEI projects and programs.

Innovation (INN)

The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) controls funding approval for the Innovation (INN) component of the MHSA. The goal of Innovation is to increase access to underserved groups, increase the quality of services, promote interagency collaboration and increase access to services. Counties select one or more goals and use those goals as the primary priority or priorities for their proposed Innovation plan.

Capital Facilities and Technological Needs (CF/TN)

The Capital Facilities and Technological Needs (CFTN) component works towards the creation of a facility that is used for the delivery of MHSA services to mental health clients and their families or for administrative offices. Funds may also be used to support an increase in peer-support and consumer-run facilities, development of community-based settings, and the development of a technological infrastructure for the mental health system to facilitate the highest quality and cost-effective services and supports for clients and their families.

Workforce Education & Training (WET)

The goal of the Workforce Education and Training (WET) component is to develop a diverse workforce. Clients and families/caregivers are given training to help others by providing skills to promote wellness and other positive mental health outcomes, they are able to work collaboratively to deliver client-and family-driven services, provide outreach to unserved and underserved populations, as well as services that are linguistically and culturally competent and relevant, and include the viewpoints and expertise of clients and their families/caregivers.

View the Workforce Education and Training Plan (PDF).