2009 California Welfare and Institutions Code - Section 4050-4061 :: Article 3. Technical Assistance

4050.  The State Department of Mental Health shall provide, to the
extent resources are available, technical assistance, through its own
staff, or by contract, to county mental health programs and other
local mental health agencies in the areas of program operations,
research, evaluation, demonstration, or quality assurance projects.

4051.  The State Department of Mental Health shall, to the extent
resources are available, provide program development guidelines,
evaluation models, and operational assistance on all aspects of
services to mentally ill persons of all ages. These services include,
but are not limited to, the following:
   (a) Self-help programs.
   (b) Housing development.
   (c) Disaster preparation.
   (d) Vocational services.
   (e) Regional programs.
   (f) Multiple diagnosis programs.

4052.  The State Department of Mental Health shall, to the extent
resources are available, provide training in performance standards,
model programs, cultural competency, and program development.

4060.  The department shall, in order to implement Section 4050,
utilize a joint state-county decisionmaking process that shall
include local mental health directors and representatives of local
mental health boards. The purpose of this collaboration shall be to
promote effective and efficient quality mental health services to the
residents of the state under the realigned mental health system.

4061.  (a) The department shall utilize a joint state-county
decisionmaking process to determine the appropriate use of state and
local training, technical assistance, and regulatory resources to
meet the mission and goals of the state's mental health system. The
department shall use the decisionmaking collaborative process
required by this section in all of the following areas:
   (1) Providing technical assistance to the State Department of
Mental Health and local mental health departments through direction
of existing state and local mental health staff and other resources.
   (2) Analyzing mental health programs, policies, and procedures.
   (3) Providing forums on specific topics as they relate to the
following:
   (A) Identifying current level of services.
   (B) Evaluating existing needs and gaps in current services.
   (C) Developing strategies for achieving statewide goals and
objectives in the provision of services for the specific area.
   (D) Developing plans to accomplish the identified goals and
objectives.
   (4) Providing forums on policy development and direction with
respect to mental health program operations and clinical issues.
   (5) Identifying and funding a statewide training and technical
assistance entity jointly governed by local mental health directors
and mental health constituency representation, which can do all of
the following:
   (A) Coordinate state and local resources to support training and
technical assistance to promote quality mental health programs.
   (B) Coordinate training and technical assistance to ensure
efficient and effective program development.
   (C) Provide essential training and technical assistance, as
determined by the state-county decisionmaking process.
   (b) Local mental health board members shall be included in
discussions pursuant to Section 4060 when the following areas are
discussed:
   (1) Training and education program recommendations.
   (2) Establishment of statewide forums for all organizations and
individuals involved in mental health matters to meet and discuss
program and policy issues.
   (3) Distribution of information between the state, local programs,
local mental health boards, and other organizations as appropriate.
   (c) The State Department of Mental Health and local mental health
departments may provide staff or other resources, including travel
reimbursement, for consultant and advisory services; for the training
of personnel, board members, or consumers and families in state and
local programs and in educational institutions and field training
centers approved by the department; and for the establishment and
maintenance of field training centers.