Alameda County Mental Health Services Act – Prop 63 / Special Projects
HHREC is consistently called upon as a valuable resource in assisting with projects that support Prop 63-The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). HHREC Special projects may include coordinating targeted outreach on behalf of county administrators, convening and facilitating focus groups, and creating outdoor media campaigns. HHREC provides hands on support to facilitate planning committees for conferences and symposiums. Recent conferences have included Alameda County’s Mental Health Technology Conference, MHSA’s Young Men Of Color Webinars, MHSA ACBH’s Community Listening Sessions, and Annual Community Input Surveys.
This diagram shows the spectrum of MHSA services from prevention through treatment and recovery.
What is the Mental Health Services Act?
More than two million Californians are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses every year.
To address this, in 2004 voters passed Proposition 63, now known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). It places a 1 percent tax on personal income above $1 million. MHSA was designed to expand and transform the mental health system, while improving the quality of life for people living with mental health challenges. Consumers and their families were partners in the process, from drafting the MHSA to campaigning for its passage.
MHSA funds effective treatment, prevention and early intervention, outreach support services, and family involvement programs to increase access and reduce inequities for unserved, underserved, and inappropriately served populations.
MHSA Core Values
MHSA Community Forums
The MHSA Forums are a safe space for BIPOC to come together and discuss issues and challenges facing the community. The MHSA program manager also helps with the annual ACBH Mental Health Technology Conference and community listening sessions.
A Sample of Past Community Forums
Young Men of Color
Topic: Mental Health During the Pandemic
A Conversation About Health and Wellness
A Virtual Conversation About Healing From Trauma and PTSD
How to Handle a Stressful Environment as a Young Person of Color
Leadership and Professional Development
Attitude. Appearance. Ownership.
Community Voice Summary Report
This three-part report shares what residents, families, providers, and community organizations had to say about the transition from MHSA to BHSA in Alameda County. It highlights community experiences, concerns, and recommendations, while emphasizing the importance of prevention, wellness, peer support, and culturally responsive services.
Office of Peer Support
HHREC assists the Office of Peer Support, formerly the Peers Organizing Community Change/Pool of Consumer Champions.
The Mission of the Office of Peer Support is to improve the quality of life for Alameda County residents who have mental health or mental health and substance use issues, in whatever settings they find themselves, and to provide the consumer perspective in Transforming Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services to a recovery vision that is consumer-driven, culturally responsive, and holistic in its services and supports. The Office of Peer Support provides an empowered and informed voice: of, by, and for consumers in the behavioral health care system, related systems, and in the community.
Stories of Success
These stories highlight some of the ways Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) funding is improving the quality of life for Alameda County residents who live with a mental illness.
Sara Pham Rosenblatt
Sara’s story is about learning how to give herself the same care, grace, and support that she has always given to others. Originally from the Sacramento area but with roots in Dallas, TX, she came to the Bay Area to [...]
Allison Agbeniyi
Allison is a Bay Area native who’s dedicated her life to empowering individuals in educational and community settings. Growing up as an introvert with social anxiety, she understands it is challenging to break the cycle of fear and avoidance. Growing [...]
Drs. Chris and NNeka Harrison
Drs. Chris and NNeka Harrison are Oakland natives, educators, researchers, and community leaders who have dedicated their work to supporting healing, leadership, and human-centered care in Alameda County. Through higher education, nonprofit leadership, and community based work, they have focused [...]
Ian Gathu
Ian Gathu’s story is one of growth, healing, and giving back to the community. Through his work at the Health and Human Resource Education Center (HHREC), he proudly serves individuals and families throughout Alameda County, including Oakland, San Leandro, and [...]
James Cook
James Cook’s life began with challenges that most people don’t face until much later in life. Losing his mother young and surviving the upheaval of Hurricane Katrina shaped him before he even had a chance to figure out who he [...]
Bri Gonzalez
I am writing to express my deep gratitude for the impact that HHREC has had on my personal, academic, and professional journey. I began interning at the agency when I was a senior in high school. At that time, I [...]
Shanina “Nina” Shumate, M.S. BHSA Campaign Managing Director
sshumate.hhrec@gmail.com | 510-385-1367
Shanina “Nina” Shumate, M.S., a fourth-generation educator from Oakland, emphasizes the importance of establishing enduring relationships to foster networking opportunities, strategic growth, and positive transformations for clients and organizations. In her role as the BHSA Campaign Managing Director, her objective is to nurture existing partnerships at HHREC while forging new collaborations to enrich the organization’s legacy that has positively influenced Alameda County residents.
Stay In Touch