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Principal

Policy Pick: Mental Health from Infancy Forward

Diciembre 10, 2007
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Many people, even mental health professionals, are unaware that infants and toddlers can experience mental health problems. In fact, the precursors to mental illness are being identified earlier and earlier in life. Because of this, First 5 LA would like to raise awareness about a critical decision-making process now underway regarding the allocation of funds through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) in L.A. County.

The voter-approved MHSA, passed in 2004, provides a permanent funding stream for mental health programs in every California county, and a portion of those funds, called the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) allocation, seeks to reduce risk factors to prevent the initial onset of mental illness. The California Department of Mental Health (DMH) has mandated that each county allocate at least 51 percent of PEI funds to children and transitional age youth as part of the prevention strategy.

To help inform decisions about MHSA monies, the L.A. County Department of Mental Health (DMH) has put together a delegation of more than 80 stakeholders representing various community groups. In addidtion to the input provided by these delegates, the L.A. County DMH is organizing meetings in each of the L.A. County Service Planning Areas, convening focus groups and administering surveys. First 5 LA encourages all children's advocates across the county to provide their perspective during these information gathering sessions. (Learn how to get involved below.)

The First 5 LA Commission is committed to the objective of incorporating early mental health in the County's MHSA-PEI plan, and has been actively engaged in the process of educating our colleagues about the importance of children’s mental health issues.

For additional information, or to get involved, contact Kate Sachnoff, First 5 LA Policy Analyst at (213) 482-7577 or ksachnoff@first5la.org. For more information on the Prevention and Early Intervention allocation click here.