TMHA and SLO County Health Agency Release Analysis Examining How to Strengthen the System of Behavioral Healthcare for Children and Youth
Author: County Behavioral Health
Date: 2/9/2024 11:37 AM
The County of San Luis Obispo Health Agency and Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) today jointly released an analysis evaluating the current state of behavioral healthcare for children and youth in San Luis Obispo County.
San Luis Obispo, CA—The County of San Luis Obispo Health Agency and Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) today jointly released an analysis evaluating the current state of behavioral healthcare for children and youth in San Luis Obispo County.
The comprehensive 46-page report, titled "Strengthening the System of Behavioral Healthcare for Children and Youth in San Luis Obispo County," was prepared by Capstone Solutions. It not only identifies gaps and areas for improvement but also provides recommendations for enhancing service delivery. County of San Luis Obispo Supervisor Bruce Gibson emphasized the significance of this analysis, stating, "This marks a critical first step in enhancing and fortifying mental health and addiction treatment programs for youth and children in San Luis Obispo County. The report offers a clear overview of Behavioral Health's performance across the entire spectrum of essential services that provide crucial care for our most vulnerable community members."
The report, which delves into the eight areas of the behavioral health continuum of care, highlights strengths, weaknesses, and specific focus areas for improvement. Health Agency Director Nick Drews said, "While the analysis acknowledges the challenges posed by significant workforce shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are committed to using these insights to bring about meaningful and positive change."
Capstone Solutions identified an insufficient supply of behavioral health professionals in the county, citing the high cost of living and the impact of virtual work opportunities on service delivery. Despite these challenges, key stakeholders recognized Behavioral Health's commendable job in delivering services under adverse conditions.
Jill Bolster-White, Executive Director of Transitions-Mental Health Association, expressed optimism about the report's impact, stating, "This analysis helps to guide our collective efforts to develop a more robust system of care for mental health and substance use disorders. Our hope is that decision-makers will use this report as a guide for creating an improved system that serves our community members well."
A full copy of the report can be found here: https://www.t-mha.org/agency-reports.php. The report is being shared with SLO County’s Board of Supervisors, all participating stakeholders, and local agencies and private businesses providing healthcare.
ABOUT TMHA Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community, and family support services. We operate over 40 programs at locations throughout San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara counties. The emphasis of our innovative services is to teach vital independent living skills and help build a framework for community re-entry through personal empowerment and hands on experience. For over forty years, TMHA has been dedicated to providing work, housing, case management and life-skills support to teens and adults with mental illness while offering support, resources and education for their loved ones. For more information, visit http://www.t-mha.org/.
ABOUT SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY HEALTH AGENCY The Health Agency’s mission is to provide a broad array of services essential to the health and well-being of those living in and visiting San Luis Obispo County. Its vision is to ensure that our residents and visitors are healthy and have access to services essential to maintain optimal health. The Health Agency is comprised of the Behavioral Health Department, the Public Health Department, the Animal Services Division, and the Office of the Public Guardian. It is the largest department in San Luis Obispo County Government with nearly 800 employees and an annual operating budget of $150 million. For more information on the programs and services the Health Agency provides, visit https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency.aspx.
ABOUT CAPSTONE SOLUTIONS CONSULTING GROUP With unique services and exceptional talent, Capstone helps human service organizations (and whole communities) improve their performance and maximize social impact by providing the transformational tools and strategies needed to enhance operations and more effectively navigate and effect social change. Capstone brings together an exceptionally talented, highly experienced group of senior-level experts from the public sector, non-profit and for-profit entities, and the world of academia … all of whom are committed to applying their highly reputed skills and prior experience to those in need. For more information, visit www.capstonesolutionsconsulting.com.
