Meeting Minutes  
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Mental Health  
Services Act Advisory Council  
3:00 PM  
Thursday, February 13, 2025  
1340 Arnold Drive, Suite 126, Martinez |  
https://cchealth.zoom.us/j/5830624772 | Call-In:  
1-646-518-9805 Access Code 583 062 4772  
1
Welcome – Review Working Agreement, Introductions, Announcements, Review Minutes  
Members Attending: Douglas Dunn, Jaime Yan Faurot,  
Brittany Lawrence, Beth Limberg,  
Lucy Espinosa Nelson, Melinda O’Day,  
Marina Ramos, Roberto Roman,  
Jennifer Tuipulotu, Amelia Wood,  
Graham Wiseman  
Behavior Health Director: Dr. Suzanne Tavano  
Staff Attending:  
Steve Hahn-Smith, Jonathan San Juan,  
Xochitl Grove  
Public Participants:  
Hillary Bowers, Ashley Graham,  
Brandon Azevedo, Jose Nicasio, Jason Faurot,  
Connie Russell, Katie Shubat, Michael Dunn,  
Diana Sanchez, Kevin Martin, Leona Foster,  
David Carrillo, Jill Ray, Mariah Corder, Anna Cleese  
Cheryl Sudduth, Joe, Peter  
Facilitator:  
Jessica Hunt, Genoveva Zesati  
Recorder:  
Audrey Montana  
Excused from Meeting:  
Absent from Meeting:  
Y’Anad Burrell, Tom Gilbert, Mashal Kleven  
Welcome – Review Working Agreement, Intros  
25-452  
• Announcements  
• Review and approve minutes  
(MHSA Staff) (Call to Order) (10 minutes)  
MHSA Advisory Council Meeting Materials 2.13.2025  
Attachments:  
(Jessica Hunt - MHSA Program Supervisor)  
Welcome  
o Announcements  
o Review and approve minutes  
o Meeting Notes: Reviewed meeting notes (10/3/24) No recommendations.  
2
Updates:  
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Innovation: PADs  
Innovation: Culturally Defined Practices (CDP)  
MX RFP  
Change to Quarterly Meetings  
(Jessica Hunt and Genoveva Zesati)  
Jessica Hunt - Update on PADs:  
o The first part of the PADS project was building a framework for the community. Next step involves  
working with peer groups and other members of our community to roll out beta testing and  
see how it works and what the experience is like for the end user as well as the various  
people involved in making PADs come  
to pass.  
Jill Ray: What is PADs?  
Jessica Hunt: PADs is Psychiatric Advance Directives and similar to the way that we have  
advanced directives for in our medical health, PADs is for mental health. There are many  
counties participating and working towards a digital format. This digital format would work  
with the healthcare and law enforcement systems and support care that is needed and in  
tune with the client's wishes.  
Jennifer Tuipulotu: Electronic PADs have been set up on a website created by contractors  
with advice from peers with lived experience. Currently, the beta testing phase is taking place.  
We are putting the idea and the groundwork into action in Contra Costa. Part of the Office for  
Peer and Family Empowerment (OPFE) staff will be assisting with the development of our  
PADs and have been testing them. Steve Hahn-Smith and Megan Rice have arranged to  
have the PADs application placed  
next to MyChart®.  
Jessica Hunt: Phase 2 of PADs is scheduled to be implemented during Fiscal Year  
(FY 2025-2026). The updated Innovation Proposal will soon be posted for a 30-day  
public comment.  
Genoveva Zesati - Update on CDPs:  
o The Innovation Project for Community Defined Practices (CDPs) which launched 2023 is under way.  
There were 17 community-based organizations that were awarded. Twelve of these were new to  
contracting with Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services. The first Innovation report for this project  
will be available around June 30, 2025.  
Jessica Hunt – Update on MX RFP  
o There were over 40 applications submitted for the Measure X Request for Proposals (RFP) for  
mental health. We will be starting the review soon. There were four different key groups identified  
for funding, based on community feedback including; children ages 0 to 5, school-age children,  
Transition-Age Youth (TAY) population, which is 16-25 years of age, as well as Lesbian, Gay,  
Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI+) communities.  
o Dr. Suzanne Tavano: The initiative was approved by the Measure X Advisory Board, and  
the RFP makes available about $1.4 million annually to support these efforts.  
Jessica Hunt – Update on MHSA Advisory Council  
o Due to internal bandwidth and preparation for the transition to the Behavioral Health Services Act  
(BHSA) the MHSA Advisory Council meetings are moving to quarterly meetings, until further  
notice.  
3
Behavioral Health Director Report Out  
(Dr. Suzanne Tavano)  
Director Report Out  
o With the passing of Proposition 1 and the new legislation, in the future there will be one consolidated  
meeting group – the Behavioral Health Board. This group is a bit of a new combination of the  
Mental Health Commission and the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Advisory Council and will  
become one integrated Behavioral Health Board.  
o The Mental Health Services Act will be changed to the Behavioral Health Services Act. This is  
part of the behavioral health transformation. We are not canceling stakeholder meetings but  
looking to streamline the meeting and not have so much overlap.  
4
Behavioral Health Transformation Update and Innovation Opportunity  
(Dr. Suzanne Tavano, Steve Hahn-Smith, and Genoveva Zesati)  
Update on Behavioral Health Transformation and Innovation Opportunity  
*Please reference PowerPoint – Behavioral Health Transformation  
Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Community Program Planning Process (CPPP)  
o Dr. Suzanne Tavano: The presentation provides an overview of where we started under MHSA,  
where we are today, and what we will become under BHSA and specifically as part of the  
Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT).  
o Genoveva Zesati: Early Intervention (EI) regulations will focus on prioritizing addressing childhood  
trauma and the root causes of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). EI will also be extended to  
include services to tackle issues related to substance use and serious emotional disturbances. The  
updated regulations emphasize reducing negative outcomes like suicide, self-harm, incarceration,  
school-related disruptions, homelessness, and mental illness among youth ages 0 to 25. The State's  
focus is on providing support that connects affected individuals to ongoing services while also  
implementing new documentation requirements. EI programs will now concentrate on three  
main areas:  
Access to Care: Linking individuals to necessary medical and behavioral health services.  
Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment: Expanding from mental health services to include  
substance use disorder treatment, with a focus on preventing severe conditions and  
shortening the duration of untreated illnesses.  
Outreach: Actively reaching out to families, healthcare providers, and educational institutions to  
identify early signs of serious mental health issues, specifically targeting priority populations  
like older adults and youth. This outreach aims to connect individuals directly to services and  
treatment, ensuring that support is culturally and linguistically appropriate.  
o Dr. Suzanne Tavano: The State is focusing on finalizing early intervention services aimed  
at identifying and supporting individuals until they can access ongoing services within the  
broader system. They are also introducing new documentation requirements. An update will  
be provided once these details are finalized, highlighting a significant change from previous  
approaches.  
o Steve Hahn-Smith: Upcoming transformation in the County's behavioral health services will  
include an emphasis on resources and infrastructure to implement new evidence-based  
practices. An innovation project has been proposed, similar to Orange County’s Program  
Improvements for Valued Outpatient Treatment (PIVOT) Innovation Project. CCBHS plans  
to utilize up to $13 million in time-limited funding to support these initiatives  
Community-Defined Evidence Practices (CDEPs): Tailoring practices to community needs and  
enhancing training for community-based organizations.  
Rebooting Full-Service Partnerships (FSP): Establishing standards and tracking progress for  
different levels of FSP care, integrating mental health and substance use services.  
Housing: Addressing housing challenges, improving partnerships, and utilizing technology for  
effective management and resource allocation.  
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs): Strengthening the use of EBPs within behavioral  
health services.  
Workforce Development: Addressing the shortage of mental health workers through innovative  
recruitment and retention strategies.  
Technology Implementation: Upgrading data systems to improve coordination and  
effectiveness of care.  
5
Public Comment / Plus Delta  
(Jessica Hunt)  
o Beth Limberg, Hope Solutions: Appreciate Dr. Tavano for monitoring the ongoing changes in the  
system, finding the situation overwhelming for providers. Will there be opportunities for  
community-based organizations (CBOs) to engage with knowledgeable individuals for concrete  
feedback. Appreciate clarity regarding how these changes will affect operations and what steps  
they should take in response to current practices.  
Dr. Tavano: We are currently developing a comprehensive strategy that includes public  
education, focus groups, and key informant interviews, with participation from major local  
entities like hospitals.  
o Douglas Dunn: Appreciate the presentation. Will the PowerPoint be available to all who  
came to the e-meeting.  
Dr. Tavano: Yes, PowerPoint will be sent out.  
o Genoveva Zesati: Survey link has been placed in the chat. A notice will also be sent out via email.  
Feel free to share survey link with others.  
6
Adjournment  
(Jessica Hunt)  
• The next MHSA Advisory Council meeting is tentatively scheduled for  
Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.