Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Access and Linkage to Treatment - “Access and Linkage to Treatment” means connecting children with severe mental illness and adults and seniors with severe mental illness, as early in the onset of these conditions as practicable, to medically necessary care and treatment, including, but not limited to, care provided by county mental health programs. 2. Be designed and implemented in ways to improve timely access to mental health services for individuals and/or families from underserved populations to help create access and linkage to treatment. - “Improving Timely Access to Services for Underserved Populations” means to increase the extent to which an individual or family from an underserved population who needs mental health services because of risk or presence of a mental illness receives appropriate services as early in the onset as practicable, through program features such as accessibility, cultural and language appropriateness, transportation, family focus, hours available, and cost of services. 3. Services shall be provided in convenient, accessible, acceptable, culturally appropriate settings such as primary healthcare, schools, family resource centers, community-based organizations, places of worship, shelters, and public settings unless a mental health setting enhances access to quality services and outcomes for underserved populations. 4. Be designed, implemented, and promoted using Strategies that are NonStigmatizing and Non-Discriminatory. - “Strategies that are Non-Stigmatizing and Non-Discriminatory” means promoting, designing, and implementing programs in ways that reduce and circumvent stigma, including self-stigma and discrimination related to being diagnosed with a mental illness, having a mental illness, or seeking mental health services, and making services accessible, welcoming, and positive. Non-Stigmatizing and Non-Discriminatory approaches include, but are not limited to, using positive, factual messages and approaches with a focus on recovery, wellness, and resilience; use of culturally appropriate language, practices, and concepts; efforts to acknowledge and combat multiple social stigmas that affect attitudes about mental illness and/or about seeking mental health services, including but not limited to race and sexual orientation; colocating mental health services with other life resources; promoting positive attitudes and understanding of recovery among mental health providers; inclusion and welcoming of family members; and employment of peers in a range of roles.
