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Governor Brown Appoints Khatera Aslami to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission
Khatera Aslami-Tamplen, 34, of Fairfield, has been appointed to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Aslami-Tamplen has been consumer relations manager at Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services since 2012. She was executive director at Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services from 2007 to 2012 and served in multiple positions at the Telecare Corporation Villa Fairmont Mental Health Rehabilitation Center from 2002 to 2007, including director of rehabilitation. Aslami-Tamplen is a member of the Client and Family Leadership Committee of the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and a founding member of the California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Aslami-Tamplen is a Democrat.
BHCS is proud of Khatera’s new and expanded role. She will provide an experienced consumer voice to the MHSA OAC and share her many talents, expertise and lived experience as a new member.
Announcing a Special and Free* Regional Training: "The Changing Behavioral Health Care Landscape: Integration, Innovation, and Financing Models for Success"
sponsored by ACBHCS and UCLA/Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP); Friday, June 28, 2013, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; San Leandro Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94579 (Alameda County / San Francisco Bay Area Region). Featured Trainer: Patrick Gauthier, B.A., Director of AHP Health Care Solutions. Description: Health care reform has initiated a sea change in the behavioral health care sector. With any transformative effort, there are many challenges but also a wealth of opportunities. For some, the challenges may seem overwhelming and the opportunities out of reach. For others, challenges are but speed bumps on the road to opportunity and success. This training will provide participants with knowledge and information to overcome the challenges and capitalize on the growing market opportunities that exist in the new health care environment. *The workshop is free (and there is a $20 charge for Continuing Education credit paid to UCLA/ISAP). See flyer for more information and registration information.
Alameda County's AB 1421/Laura's Law Recommendations Posted for Public Review and Feedback
AB 1421, known as Laura's Law, allows counties to offer court ordered Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) for adults who have been non-compliant with their treatment, are not engaged in services and have been incarcerated and/or hospitalized. Since approval by the California Legislature in 2002, Nevada County is the only county that has implemented an AOT program.
On March 18, 2013, Alameda County's Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on AB 1421, with presentations by Health Care Services (HCSA) and Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS) leadership; Randall Hagar, Legislative Chair, California Psychiatric Association and one of the authors of AB1421; and Lisa Smusz, Executive Director of PEERS, an Alameda County consumer-run agency. HCSA/BHCS Leadership was instructed to review current programs, work with existing stakeholder groups and provide the Board with recommendations for consideration.
HCSA/BHCS Leadership believes that the intent of AB 1421/Laura's Law is to connect unengaged individuals to services and treatment and to work with them towards their recovery. After researching programs and meeting with existing stakeholders, staff developed voluntary recommendations that we believe will enhance treatment and meet the needs of individuals that "fall through the cracks" of our current system.
We want to hear from our stakeholder community about these AB 1421/Laura's Law recommendations. We invite consumers, family members, providers, community-based agencies and Alameda County residents to review the recommendations and provide us with their feedback and suggestions. You can send your comments to BHCS from now through June 30, 2013, by sending an email to Comm@acbhcs.org.
In addition to posting these recommendations, BHCS is planning a series of community meetings to solicit stakeholder feedback and recommendations. Staff anticipate posting this information within the next week. Please check the BHCS website for updates on the dates, times and locations.
View Recommendations
State Mental Health Loan Assumption Program (MHLAP) Awardee Announcement
Mental Health Plan Provider Network Recruitment Outreach Letter
BHCS is seeking qualified individual practitioners and groups of individual providers/practitioners, such as licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapists (MFT) and licensed clinical psychologists (Ph.D./Psy.D.) to join Alameda County BHCS’ Mental Health Plan Provider Network. Click here to learn more.
Services to Individuals with Hearing Impairments Outreach Letter
Mental Health Plan Provider Network FAQ's
Mental Health Plan Provider Network Brief Application
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Geriatric Assessment & Response Team (GART)
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Geriatric Assessment & Response Team (GART) has moved to the Gail Steele Wellness and Recovery Center, 409 Jackson St, #200, Hayward, CA 94544, effective 5/1/12. The administrative phone number is (510) 891-5650. QIC code is 50802. Business hours are 8:30-5:00 M-F
Grant Award
The State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) has awarded BHCS a Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) that will target the community of Livermore for the purpose of reducing underage and excessive drinking among youth and young adults ages 12 to 25 years old. The strategies to be used will mainly be environmental in nature, e.g. enhanced enforcement of laws against selling alcohol to underage buyers, nuisance party laws, DUI enforcement, responsible beverage service training and enforcement, social host ordinances, youth mapping community environment, etc.
The term of the SPF SIG grant is April 1, 2012 to September 28, 2015 for a total of $380,000 ($95,000 per year). The grant will be led by the Berkeley based agency, Prevention Research Center (PRC), and BHCS will assist in the oversight for Livermore.
South County Crisis Response Has Moved
South County Crisis Response has moved to 409 Jackson St. Hayward, CA 94544 effective 3/22/12. The administrative phone number is (510) 891-5600. QIC code is 50801. Business hours are 8:30-5:00 M-F.
New Fax Number For TAY referrals (510) 383-2820
CHOICES for Community Living “is a large scale pilot project in Alameda County’s Adult mental health system. Its primary objectives are to promote wellness and recovery for mental health consumer participants and to bring about organizational transformation directly.”
Transition Age Youth System of Care
Children's System of Care
The Children’s System of Care (CSOC) 2009-2012 Strategic Plan and EPSDT expansion and augmentation guideline are available.
More Information
BHCS Office of Consumer Relations
One page summary of the BHCS Office of Consumer Relations.
View one page summary
BHCS Office of Family Relations
One page summary of the BHCS Office of Family Relations.
View one page summary
BHCS Co-Occurring Conditions Initiative
One page summary of the BHCS Co-Occurring Conditions Initiative.
View one page summary
BHCS re-accredited as a physician CME Provider:
The Institute for Medical Quality/California Medical Association’s Committee on Continuing Medical Education (CME) is pleased to award Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services with a four-year accreditation, expiring March 31, 2013, as a result of your accreditation survey, written application and activity file evidence you provided to demonstrate compliance with the accreditation standards and policies.
ACBHCS - African American Utilization Study Project
ACBHCS Cultural Competency Committee begins a Utilization Study Project to address the behavioral health care needs of the African American community.
Click here for more information.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to maximize the recovery, resilience and wellness of all eligible Alameda County residents who are developing or experiencing serious mental health, alcohol or drug concerns.
Mandated Services
The level of mandated services is prescribed by AB 1288 and related Realignment legislation. AB 1288 requires the County to fund Mental Health Services up to amounts received via its Realignment allocation, mandated matching funds set according to a base year and any applicable third party revenues that are available. The mandated services that are required to be funded include: psychiatric crisis or emergency care, inpatient care, outpatient/day care, case management, conservatorship, administration and evaluation. Within these seven mandated service areas, there are a variety of specific mandates such as staffing standards, quality assurance standards, and a host of reporting and general practice standards.
Discretionary funding has been used to augment the seven basic departmental services and other program services, such as housing support services and Community-Based Organization stabilization. Continuation of this funding level and service support is at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.
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Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services
2000 Embarcadero Cove, Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94606