An East Bay health department has accepted a proposal for new comprehensive, recovery-focused mental health services for low-income children in the fastest-growing section of Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) Mental Health Division has announced its recommendation to award a contract with Families Unidas, a community-based agency that is partnering with Asian Pacific Psychological Services and New Connections. The collaborative will provide mental health services for children up to age 18 and their families in far East County, including Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Bethel Island, Oakley and Byron. CCHS will recommend the contract to the Board of Supervisors in January for final approval. The 18-month grant is for $1.5 million in State Mental Health Services Act (MHSA or Proposition 63) dollars. The collaborative will work closely with the Mental Health Division.

"We're delighted to be able to bring new services to a section of the county that is rapidly growing and currently has limited mental health services in the community," said Kimberly Mayer, Project Manager for the Mental Health Services Act. "Our review panel selected Families Unidas and partners because we believe they have both the understanding of the community and the ability to deliver mental health recovery supports and services necessary to achieve the goals of MHSA."

According to Mayer, the target population and scope of services to be offered were defined through an extensive, community-based planning process carried out in 2005.

"Community planning has taken place and input from consumers, family members and providers was utilized in the creation of these mental health services. Once this contract is approved, we can expect culturally competent services that promote recovery and resilience to begin in early 2007 in far East County," explained Mayer.

The collaborative is expecting to enroll 100 low-income families with children for long-term support and services, according to Alexis Adorador, Executive Director of Families Unidas.

"We are very excited to have been awarded these new monies to be able to continue our work in the historically under-served area of far East Contra Costa County," said Adorador. "This collaborative will provide whatever it takes to promote resiliency in children who have a history of repeated failure in learning environments, who are below 300 percent of the federal poverty level and are not eligible for other mental health services."

Information about the Mental Health Services Act and mental health services is available at www.cchealth.org/services/men tal_health.