Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI)

MHSA - PEI
3801 University Ave., Ste. 400
Riverside, CA  92501
(951) 955-7156

Hours of Operation:  Monday - Thursday  8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Essence of Prevention and Early Intervention

The presence of Prevention and Early Intervention as a separate component of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) represents the biggest change in mental health planning and funding that has occurred in twenty years. As a brand new part of our system, this component of MHSA has the greatest potential to reduce the costs related to longer term mental health treatment, special education, welfare supports and criminal justice system.
Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) works by addressing a core set of risk factors that target initial onset of mental health problems. Potential multiple negative outcomes can be dramatically reduced for all age groups.

The populations that are prioritized in this component of MHSA are:
• Underserved cultural populations, all ages
• Individuals experiencing onset of serious psychiatric illness
• Children/youth in stressed families
• Trauma-exposed, all ages
• Children/youth at risk for school failure
• Children/youth at risk of Juvenile Justice involvement

Pursuant to the State guidelines, an objective of PEI is to increase capacity for mental health prevention and early intervention programs. These programs are to be provided in places where mental health services are not traditionally given, such as schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, etc. The intent of PEI programs is to engage individuals before the development of serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance or to alleviate the need for additional or extended mental health treatment.

The development of the RCDMH Prevention and Early Intervention plan resulted from an extensive community planning process that was inclusive of consumers, family members, members of unserved and underserved cultural populations, community based and faith based organizations, the community at large, and county agencies.

The RCDMH Prevention and Early Intervention plan was approved by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) on September 24, 2009.  To view the plan, please click the PEI plan link. Additionally, the Department had posted the Executive Summary of the plan.  Please click the links to view/print the summary.  Currently, the Department is working on a sustainable implementation plan.  Updates will be posted as programs are implemented. 

Statewide Prevention and Early Intervention Programs Scope of Work Information Gathering Sessions

CalMHSA hosted two information gathering sessions on December 1 and December 15, 2010 to solicit input from experts and other community stakeholders for the purpose of developing the scopes of work for the three CalMHSA Statewide Prevention and Early Intervention programs (Suicide Prevention, Stigma and Discrimination Reduction and Student Mental Health Initiative).  The information gathering sessions will be facilitated by the California Institute for Mental Health. The public had the opportunity to participate in person, via GoToWebinar, and/or conference call and email.

CalMHSA Information Gathering Sessions Flyer

Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Statewide Projects

In January and September of 2007, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (OAC) approved five PEI Statewide Projects.  In May of 2008, the OAC determined that three of these projects would be most effectively implemented through a single administrative entity.  The State Department of Mental Health (DMH) agreed to administer these projects but could only do so if each county “assigned” the funds designated for those projects to DMH.  Just to clarify, these funds are separate from the local Riverside County PEI funding.  This funding is to be used at the statewide level and will not impact local PEI funds.  Riverside was allocated $8.8 million ($2.2 for each year for 4 years) as their portion of the statewide funds.

These statewide projects are:
 
1. Suicide Prevention
2. Student Mental Health Initiative
3. Stigma and Discrimination Reduction

It was intended that these statewide PEI Projects would be developed and implemented with involvement of the County Mental Health Directors, the California Mental Health Director’s Association, OAC staff and other diverse stakeholders throughout California.  In late 2008, DMH announced they did not have the authority to require counties to assign the statewide funds back to DMH and the mechanism for counties to access the funds had not been determined.

During this time, several counties partnered to form a single administrative entity in the form of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), which was subsequently named the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA).  One of the goals of the CalMHSA is to administer the Statewide PEI projects to achieve the ‘statewideness’ as originally intended.  In order for this to occur, a mechanism for counties to assign their funds to CalMHSA had to be established.

Since the initial Information Notice was issued, there have been two more DMH Information Notices issued which identified additional mechanisms for administration of these funds.  The three options available where:

1. County may act jointly with one or more other counties to implement a statewide program through CalMHSA, a Joint Powers Authority (JPA).
2. County may act jointly with one or more other counties to implement a statewide and/or a regional replicable program through a multi-county collaborative.
3. County may assign funds to DMH to implement a statewide program.

Per DMH Info Notice No. 10-15, Assignment of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Funds for PEI Statewide Programs, the Department entered into a contractual agreement with CalMHSA (JPA).  See attached Supplemental MHSA PEI Statewide Programs Assignment Agreement, Enclosure 1, for the details.  (Updated 09/13/11)

 Revised Previously Approved Program

Per Info. Notice 10-21, County’s are allowed to request Mental Health Services Act funding for new programs, to consolidate previously approved programs or terminate programs that have not proven to be effective. At this time Riverside County is recommending that they consolidate all outreach and engagement activities describe in the Community Services and Support Plan (O/E-06) and Prevention and Early Intervention Plan (PEI-01, Mental Health Outreach, Awareness and Stigma Reduction).  This will allow the Department to provide a more consistent approach to its Outreach activities, avoid duplication of effort and create staffing and resource efficiencies within the program.

Please see attached Exhibit F1 for details of the consolidation effort. This Exhibit will be open for public comment for a 30-day period which begun on August 4, 2011 and ended on September 6, 2011. (Posted 08/04/11)