ADVANCING CLIENT AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
ACCESS California is a statewide consumer-led public mental health advocacy program of Cal Voices. ACCESS is funded by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA/Prop. 63). Founded in 1946, Cal Voices is the oldest continuously operating peer-run consumer advocacy agency in California.
NEW TO ACCESS?
START HERE!
PAST WEBINARS
Missed a recent webinar? You're in luck. All our webinars are recorded and archived for at least six months so you can watch whenever you have time.
HOW TO ADVOCATE
Want to participate in mental health advocacy but not sure where to begin? ACCESS has you covered. Our experienced advocates know the in's and out's of the Public Mental Health System and how to get stuff done.
NEWS AND ACTIVITIES:
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MHSA REFRESH
Need help advocating in your local mental health system? Want to voice a concern about the way your county is running its MHSA Community Program Planning process? Contact our Advocacy Helpline by phone at (707) 572-4357 or email us at access@norcalmha.org. We can help point you in the right direction.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING
"I knew about the MHSA but not how in-depth it is."
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"Serious eye-opener."
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"WOW ... This is golden."
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"Consumers want to have a voice. We need to make sure the opportunity occurs always!"
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"[I gained] a better understanding of [the] MHSA terminology and overall foundation for me to continue to learn. I am encouraged and inspired. Thank you."
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"[I'm] understanding [the] MHSA a lot better and empowered to know how I can do my part."
MHSA LEADERSHIP
TRAINING ATTENDEES
"I learned so much about how [the] MHSA works."
"Instructors are experts in their field."
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"The trainers are fantastic, engage well, prepare well."
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"This is going to help in program decision-making."
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"[I learned] my rights and that I can contact people in authority and speak my opinion, I have a voice and there are people out there to support me."
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"I have a stronger voice than I had originally thought."
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"Love it."
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
"I will make sure that I bring the MHSA standards with me to all meetings so I can see if the use the Department is meeting the 6 guidelines they are supposed to. I will encourage my community, especially the Spanish speakers to advocate for their rights."
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"I am going to organize, in collaboration with my county MHSA coordinator, many stakeholder meetings to set a fresh list of priorities and to write some client-generated proposals to the board."
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"The facilitators took the time to answer questions. Making the experience about quality not quantity."
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"Even though this is serious and weighted material the staff kept the presentation fun and engaging."
