The Advisory Board shall have the following duties:
(a) Review the County's Behavioral Health contracts and grants awarded to support services and initiatives administered through the Behavioral Health Services Division including those entered into pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5650;
(b) Review and comment on reports to the Board of Supervisors and other entities as necessary and appropriate regarding the needs and performance of County funded behavioral health programs;
(c) Review and evaluate the community's public mental health needs, services, facilities, and special problems in any facility within the county where mental health evaluations or services are being provided, including, but not limited to, schools, emergency departments, and psychiatric facilities;
(d) Advise the Board of Supervisors and the Director of BHS as to any aspect of the local mental health and substance use programs. The Advisory Board may request assistance from the local patients' rights advocates when reviewing and advising on mental health evaluations or services provided in public facilities with limited access;
(e) Review and approve the procedures used to ensure citizen and professional involvement at all stages of the planning process. Involvement shall include individuals with lived experience of mental illness or substance use disorders and their families, community members, advocacy organizations, and mental health professionals. It shall also include other professionals that interact with individuals living with mental illness or substance use disorders on a daily basis, such as education, emergency services, employment, health care, housing, law enforcement, local business owners, social services, seniors, transportation, and veterans;
(f) Submit an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the needs and performance of the County behavioral health system;
(g) Review and make recommendations on applicants for the appointment of the Behavioral Health Services Director. The Advisory Board shall be included in the Director's selection process prior to appointment;
(h) Review and comment on County's performance outcome data, as it relates to behavioral health matters, and communicate its findings to the California Behavioral Health Planning Council;
(i) Assess the impact of the realignment of services from the State to the County on behavioral health services delivered to clients and on the local community;
(j) Review the County's plans and outcomes for developing the three-year program and expenditure plan and updates as required by Welfare and Institutions Code section 5848;
(k) Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5848(b): (1) conduct a public hearing on the Mental Health Services Act draft three-year program and expenditure plan and annual updates at the close of the 30-day comment period required by Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5848(a); (2) review the County's adopted plan or update; and (3) if approved by a majority vote of the Advisory Board, make substantive recommendations to BHS for revisions to the plan or update; and
(l) Any other duty assigned by the Board of Supervisors or required by State law.
(Added by Ord. No. 10361 (N.S.), effective 1-1-15; amended by Ord. No. 10760 (N.S.), effective 12-16-21)