About Us

Authority

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42 USC Sec. 300x-3 requires states to establish a Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council if they receive funding through the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (45 CFR Part 96).

In 2011, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommended that states integrate representatives of substance use disorder, prevention, and treatment services on their Council, and develop Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Councils.

Guiding Philosophies

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We honor every voice.
We recognize that these issues are universal; everyone experiences changes in their behavioral and mental wellness.
We utilize Culturally Linguistically Appropriate Service (CLAS) standards.
We value feedback from OHA regarding our recommendations – what happens to our suggestions.
We can make a difference and desire to leave our fears at the door.
We make decisions based on the benefit for people, not systems.
We use SAMHSA's definition of recovery: “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential."
We shake the system up, but not the individual.
We Collaborate, Cooperate, Communicate, and Catalyze for system change.
Equal time and value to the full spectrum of services from prevention to treatment, across the entire lifespan.
The voice of the individual drives the service planning process – nothing about us without us.
We ensure that what is supported here fits into the Triple Aim of better care, better health and lower cost.
We ensure the system does not fall exclusively into the medical model.
Greater communication and understanding with the coordinated care organizations.
Be productive and not waste our time together.
There is a bigger picture that we are part of.

To Learn More:

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For minutes and meeting materials from past meetings, please visit the Full Council Meetings page. For records older than one year, please email Hanna Atenafu, Behavioral Health Planner.