Merced Mental Health opens comment period for input on services

Sept. 21--Merced County residents will have the opportunity to comment on how the Mental Health Department allocates state funding by offering input during a 30-day period that began Friday.

Under the Mental Health Services Act, the department receives an estimated $8 million to $9 million each fiscal year to be used primarily for community service and support programs as well as prevention and early intervention services. During the comment period, residents are encouraged to offer suggestions about what they'd like to see added or changed within these programs. In the past, the funding has been used to support programs such as the PEARLS program, a service for senior citizens with depression.

Livingston's Mental Health and Police in Schools program, also known as MAPS, is another community-based effort that receives MHSA funding, as well as iMatter, which provides social skills training to children.

The county is required to seek community input for MHSA funding, and doing so also helps create transparency between the department and the community, according to county officials.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 as part of the Behavioral Health Board Meeting at 1137 B St. in Merced.

A draft of the three-year program and expenditure plan is posted at the Mental Health Department website, www.co.merced.ca.us. The Annual Plan Update provides specific program information on the various programs created and run through MHSA funding.

A public comment form also is available online. Requests for a hard copy of the documents can be made by sending an email to sjones@co.merced.ca..us or by calling the department at 209-381-6800.

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