Mental health services: youth.

Existing law, the Children's Mental Health Services Act, establishes an interagency system of care for the delivery of mental health services to seriously emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children and their families. Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative statute enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, also funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. Existing law provides for the operation and administration of various mental health programs by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. This bill would require the commission, subject to an appropriation, to administer an Integrated Youth Mental Health Program for purposes of establishing local centers to provide integrated youth mental health services, as specified. The bill would authorize the commission to establish the core components of the program, subject to specified criteria, and would require the commission to develop the selection criteria and process for awarding funding to local entities for these purposes. The bill would authorize the commission to implement these provisions by means of an informational letter, bulletins, or similar instructions.