PEI Statewide Projects
In 2007, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) approved five Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Statewide Projects. In May 2008, the MHSOAC determined that three of the PEI Statewide Projects would be most effectively implemented through a single administrative entity. The MHSOAC approved a combined funding level of $40 million per year for four years for these projects:
Suicide Prevention (SP) $10 million per year (25%)
Stigma and Discrimination Reduction (SDR) $15 million per year (37.5%)
Student Mental Health Initiative (SMHI) $15 million per year (37.5%)
Initially the California Department of Mental Health (DMH) agreed to administer and implement these projects. During 2009, the Counties, MHSOAC and the DMH determined that a more efficient and effective method of implementation was to use a JPA. CalMHSA was formed in July 2009 and, during the next nine months, the JPA worked on developing strategic plans and executing a contract with DMH for the $160 million Statewide PEI funds. Upon contract execution, CalMHSA carried out the MHSOAC Guidelines by gathering stakeholder input and establishing the CalMHSA Implementation Ad Hoc Committee to oversee development of the CalMHSA Statewide PEI Implementation Work Plan.
In January 2011, the Work Plan was approved by the MHSOAC as an implementation guide for the three initiatives. The Work Plan provided an outline of funding estimates for the first phase of the statewide implementation—containing priorities and themes, and focusing on recommended actions and budget information. (A second phase is planned once additional members have joined the JPA.) Upon Work Plan approval, requests for proposals and application (RFPs/RFAs) were released, containing detailed scopes of work and budget information for 24 separate programs.
In spring 2011, proposal review panels comprised of subject matter experts met to evaluate the submitted proposals. In summer 2011, selected proposers were approved by the CalMHSA board of directors, and staff began contract negotiations, which were completed in early December 2011.
