News

Mental Health Systems takes a proactive approach in communicating to the community about mental health issues, services and successes. Follow along with us as we promote healthy community practices through print, broadcast and social media. Please let us know if you see an item that would be of interest to others in the MHS community. Submit it here.

Mental Health Systems Presents the 2012 Youth Leadership Summit

June 18, 2012 – (San Diego, Calif.) --

WHAT: Caring Helpers Leadership Training, a program of Mental Health Systems (MHS), is pleased to announce the 2012 Youth Leadership Summit with the theme, Hope From Within. This program mentors and trains youth and adults to be outstanding leaders in their communities.

Awaiting Supreme Court Ruling on Affordable Care Act

(June 2012) - June is a month of waiting. At the federal level, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) later this month. California has shown signs of wanting to proceed (like Massachusetts did) with healthcare reform even if the ACA is ruled unconstitutional in part or entirely. Congress and the President have three major tax deadlines hitting on December 31, but politics/elections may get in the way of policy solutions for some time.

Defining Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers

(May 2012) - Legislation will soon be introduced in Congress to create a new definition, requirements, and benefits for Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers (FQBHCs). In the past, community mental health and addictions providers have been undefined at the federal level. As a result, they have not been eligible for many vital federal funds and benefits. With states having cut nearly $4 billion from their mental health agency budgets over the course of the recession, access to these federal funds is critical.

New Vice President Appointed to Mental Health Systems

David Calandra to Oversee Central Valley and Central Coast Regions

April 25, 2012 – (Fresno, Calif.) -- Mental Health Systems, Inc. (MHS) announced today that David Calandra, LMFT, has been named vice president. Calandra will join the agency’s leadership team in assuring the delivery of innovative, cost-effective services for individuals and families living with behavioral health problems. In his new position, he will be responsible for the oversight of all programs operated by MHS in California’s Central Valley and Central Coast regions, and will work with community partners to address the unique service needs of area residents.

Holistic mental wellness center coming to Fresno

(April 4, 2012, Todd R. Brown, HealthyCal.org)
To some immigrants, the details of Western medicine lie in unfamiliar territory, so certain maladies wind up being treated by traditional healers rather than modern medical practitioners. Read the full Article