Mental health services: county pilot program.

Existing law establishes a community support system to, among other things, conduct active outreach to persons who are mentally disabled and homeless to secure and maintain income, housing, food, and clothing. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature, when funds are made available, that counties ensure the delivery of long-range services and community support assistance to these persons. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to establish a 3-year pilot project to include the County of Los Angeles and up to 9 additional counties in which each participating county would be required to establish an outreach team, comprised of county employees, to provide outreach services to individuals with a history of mental illness or substance use disorders who are unable to provide for urgently needed medical care and who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The bill would require an outreach team to facilitate early intervention and treatment for these individuals in the least restrictive environment and to provide intensive outreach, case management, and linkage to services, including housing and treatment services. The bill would require the department to report to the Legislature during the course of the pilot project, as specified. The bill would only become operative upon appropriation by the Legislature for the specific implementation and administration of the pilot program.