San Rafael, CA – State and federal funding is available to help counties address community issues such as behavioral health services and critical housing needs. Marin County is asking for help in prioritizing future spending by better understanding the concerns of residents.
A series of planning meetings will take place in July and August where residents will discuss a range of community issues such as mental health services and prevention efforts, substance use treatment and prevention, affordable housing needs, community facilities and park improvements, and public services.
Suicide and behavioral health prevention and early intervention is just one community issue that will be discussed at the planning meetings.
Feedback gathered from the focus group sessions will be used by Marin Health and Human Services Department (HHS) and Community Development Agency (CDA) to inform three separate grant funding plans: the
Mental Health Services Act 3-Year Plan, the
Substance Use Services 5-Year Plan, and
Housing and Federal Grants Division’s 5-Year Consolidated Plan. The new plans will go into effect on July 1, 2020.
“Our intent is to work alongside residents to develop a shared, community vision for services that are culturally competent and assist those with the greatest need in our community,” said Jillian Zeiger, Planner for Marin’s Community Development Agency. “This is a unique time where all three of these divisions have timelines that overlap, so we can reach a broader audience and address issues in a holistic manner.”
CDA’s Consolidated Plan prioritizes county specific needs for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). These federal grant funds are distributed to eligible projects sponsored by local nonprofit organizations and public agencies and have been used for housing, community facilities, and public services for low- and moderate-income households.
HHS’s Continuum of Substance Use Strategic Plan aims to create a comprehensive approach to preventing, treating and providing ongoing recovery support services for the problems associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in Marin’s Community.
The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) was approved by voters in 2004 with aim to help transform the public mental health system through community collaboration, client and family member involvement, and a focus on wellness and recovery.
Planning meetings will be held at a variety of locations around Marin:
- July 22, 7-9 p.m. – Hamilton Community Center, Novato
- August 1, 1-3 p.m. – Marin County Office of Education, San Rafael
- August 5, 4-6 p.m. – Bayside / Martin Luther King Jr. School, Marin City
- August 14, 6-8 p.m. – College of Marin, Kentfield
An additional meeting on August 27, from 4:30 to 6:30pm, will be held at the Marin Health and Wellness Campus in San Rafael to focus specifically on suicide and behavioral health prevention and early intervention. There will be an additional meeting held entirely in Spanish, details will be announced at a later date.
The County hosted a meeting in West Marin on June 18 and will continue to conduct outreach to West Marin residents throughout the planning process.
To ensure broad community engagement, an online survey is also available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. The online survey will remain open until the fall.
Additional meeting information and notes from previous meetings are available on Marin HHS’s MHSA webpage and the Federal Grants webpage.
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