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PROPOSITION 63The Mental Health Services Act

Community Mental Health Providers, Consumers and Families, and Other Supporters of Increased Funding for Mental Health Services

Major funding by CA Council of Community Mental Health Agencies and Service Employees International Union committee

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Background

• 1968 – state mental hospitals emptied• Promise of community care• Promise never fulfilled

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Background

• Darrell Steinberg, Assemblyman, Sacramento

• AB 34 (1999)• Created “integrated

services” model

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AB 34 “Integrated Services”• One-stop shopping• Combine mental health care with:

– Medical care, pharmaceuticals– Housing– Counseling, job training

• Saved taxpayers millions of dollars• National model - President’s Commission

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AB 34 “Integrated Services”• Tens of thousands without care• Budget crisis• Programs not growing• All mental health care in California at risk

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How to reach more people?• Decision to try initiative• Polling, focus groups• Solid support• Initiative could win

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What the initiative does• Provides $700 million/year to counties• With new federal funds, more than $1 billion• Offers care to children, adults, seniors• Covers uninsured, and those whose

insurance coverage has run out

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What the initiative does• Spectrum of care

– Prevention/early intervention– Intensive, “wraparound” services

• Annual expansion until local needs met• Set-asides for facilities, education/training,

reserves for sluggish economy

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What the initiative does• 1% tax on annual income over $1 million• Generates $700 million/year• 72% supported this in polling• Saves all taxpayers money

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What the initiative does• Legislative Analyst says savings would be:

[H]undreds of millions of dollars annually on a statewide basis from reduced costs for state prison and county jail operations, medical care, homeless shelters, and social services programs.

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Poll results• 82%: California has neglected people with

mental illnesses• 83%: People with disabling mental illness

“deserve the same guarantee of care” as those with other disabilities

• 42%: Have known someone with a serious mental illness

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Poll results• First poll (2003):

– 69% would vote “yes”– 41% “definitely yes”– 25% would oppose

• March 2004:– 64% yes– 27% no

• May 2004:– 67% yes– 31% no

• Aug 2004:– 59% yes– 29% no

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Getting on the ballot• Needed 375,000 valid signatures• Got 645,000• 100,000 from volunteers

– Mental health consumers– Family members– Health care workers

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Who Supports It• Medical organizations

– California Psychiatric Association– California Psychological Association– California Nurses Association

• Law Enforcement/Public Safety:– Peace Officers Research Association of California

• representing more than 55,000 officers

– California Police Chiefs Association– California State Firefighters Association

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Who supports it• Congress of California Seniors• California Teachers Association• Government Bodies

– Boards of Supervisors of San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Mateo, Marin Counties

– City Councils of Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Santa Barbara

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Who supports it• United Advocates for Children of Calif.• More than 30 members of Legislature• Dozens of mental health care providers

*many more at www.yeson63.org/endorsers

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Who opposes it• Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association• National Taxpayers Union• Americans for Tax Reform• Citizens Commission on Human Rights

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Who opposes itCitizens Commission on Human Rights:

“The Citizens Commission on Human Rights was established by the Church of Scientology as an independent body to investigate and expose psychiatric violations of human rights.”

- CCHR website

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Who opposes it• All groups opposing the initiative have

millions of dollars to spend• Opponents get equal time in news stories• Ballot pamphlet arguments - every registered

voter gets a copy

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Challenge for Victory• We’ve done a lot right• Public opinion research• Careful drafting• Energy & passion• $1 million raised & spent already• Building grassroots/online campaign

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California votersTo win, we must inform voters about the initiative. California has:

• 34 million residents• 15 million registered voters• 10-12 million will vote in November

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California voters• Speak to 1,000 voters/day, every day:

27 years to reach every voter one time

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California voters• Winning campaigns rely on advertising• Costs $2 million/week to be effective• Reach most voters with multiple messages• Reach 100 people for each dollar spent

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Victory on Election Day• We must reach our goal of $2.6 million• If we do, we win• $700 million more/year for mental health• The stakes are enormous• Will not have a chance like this again

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Victory on Election Day• Your dollars help us speak to voters• Your support now = support for those who

need help later• How much can you afford to give to help?