Board of Supervisors expand and approve bridge funding for mental health services left out by Prop. 1.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to provide one-year bridge funding to three nonprofits providing unique preventative mental health services, plus one more that was proposed during the meeting on July 7.

The three organizations recommended by the County's Behavioral Health Bureau for funding were the Center for Community Advocacy, Alliance on Aging and The Village Project, for a total of $580,000, to come out of the County's general contingency fund.

During the meeting, Supervisor Chris Lopez said he could not support the expenditures unless Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueño, or CBDIO, was included at $100,000 to support its Maternal Mental Health team that works with indigenous families in South County. His colleagues on the board agreed to the addition.

Alliance on Aging will receive $117,993 for its senior peer counseling program. CAC was approved for $182,332 for its work addressing mental health needs of farmworker and low-income families. The Village Project received $219,675 for its work with Black youth and individuals.

In all, 22 organizations that previously received state funding funneled through the County of Monterey for mental health services found their funding was either reduced or eliminated, due to the passage of Proposition 1, which switched California from the Mental Health Services Act to the Behavioral Health Services Act.

The focus has now shifted away from programs that are purely preventative and toward helping those with serious behavioral health issues, as well as housing initiatives. 

The four organizations that will now receive bridge funding were all in danger of having to shutter programs that offered preventative care to unique populations. They now must find more permanent sources of funding to take over once the bridge funds run out. Some may be able to apply for state funds that are becoming available later this year.

The Village Project underwent the difficult process of being approved to collect reimbursements under Medi-Cal and Medicare, according to Claudette Carroll, interim chief operating officer. The hope is it will help them continue their work offering programs and therapy to Black children and adults.