Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health, and Recovery Services
Subject: Amendment to the Behavioral Health Commission Bylaws
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the Behavioral Health Commission Bylaws to reflect the inclusion of one (1) required Client Youth seat within the existing Consumer/Client membership, and one (1) Public Education seat within the existing 19-member commission, in accordance with the recent amendments to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
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BACKGROUND:
The Behavioral Health Commission (BHC), formerly Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission, is mandated by the California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), ? 5604, to ensure citizen and professional involvement in planning processes regarding the behavioral health system of care. The BHC also advises this Board and the local Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Division Director regarding County behavioral health needs, services, special problems, and outcomes of mental health services. The BHC is required to have a set of bylaws by which they operate, which are approved by this Board.
DISCUSSION:
The BHC desires to amend its bylaws to reflect the inclusion of one (1) required Client Youth seat within the existing Consumer/Client membership, and the inclusion of a new category of one (1) Public Education seat within the existing 19-member commission, in accordance with a 2024 amendment to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
The bylaws and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that 14 out of 19 (74%) of the County's BHC members will be consumers or the parents, spouses, siblings, or adult children of consumers. (The California WIC requires that a minimum of 50% of BHC members be consumers.)
PERFORMANC...
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