CBHA - From Inception To Now

Since its inception in 1985 as the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies, CCCMHA as it was known then, has endeavored to provide each member agency and their leadership with the support, assistance, and camaraderie that can help make a difference in the often-difficult task of running a nonprofit behavioral health agency. 

Like many of your agencies, CBHA has grown dramatically over the years. As CBHA has expanded, our responsibilities and mandates have also increased exponentially. In 1999, CBHA was instrumental in the design and implementation of a pioneering, three-county program that served individuals experiencing homelessness, and people on parole or probation with serious mental illness. Using aggressive outreach and a whatever-it-takes-approach to match services to client needs, these programs achieved significant clinical outcomes for those served and saved millions of dollars by reducing hospitalization and incarceration costs. A good portion of our members also serve clients who are dealing with addiction and substance use disorders (SUDs).

Overall there has been a growing recognition that mental health and addiction services are part of the same community of behavioral health. The CBHA Board of Directors and member agencies, in response to this evolution, changed our name from Mental Health to Behavioral Health in 2016. In December 2017, we unveiled our new identity and now use the acronym CBHA instead of the former CCCBHA.

Historic Achievements

1999 - Implementation Three-County Program that Served Homeless People, Parolees, and Probationers

CBHA was instrumental in the design and implementation of a pioneering, three-county program that served homeless people, parolees, and probationers with serious mental illness (SMI). Using aggressive outreach and a "whatever-it-takes approach" to match services to client needs, these programs achieved significant clinical outcomes for those served and saved millions of dollars by reducing hospitalization and incarceration costs.

2004 - Mental Health Services Act

The passage in 2004 of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, was CBHA's proudest moment. It was not an easy decision for CBHA's board to commit such substantial resources to this effort when hardly anyone believed an idea such as this had a chance; however, CBHA's strong belief in the need to adequately fund mental health services prevailed, and it was largely through the advocacy efforts of CBHA's founder and co-author of Proposition 63, Rusty Selix and this association that the MHSA was passed by the voters of California. The passage of Proposition 63 has raised hopes and expectations throughout California, and while it will take years to fully realize its benefits, Proposition 63 will make an enormous difference in the lives of those who have heretofore been unable to access critically needed mental health services.

2009 - National Healthcare Reform and Behavioral Health Parity

The year 2009 saw the beginning of an economic downturn that has repeatedly threatened the funding for mental health services in this state. CBHA is working diligently with the larger stakeholder community to protect the funding base and ensure that as the public system grows through the
implementation of national healthcare reform and behavioral health parity, there are adequate resources to meet the needs of those with a mental illness or substance use disorder.

2011 - Realignment 2009 and 2011, Plus the Repeal of AB 3632

By 2011, the forthcoming implementation of the Affordable Care Act and a state budget deficit that was unprecedented, resulted in the consolidation of the Department of Mental Health Services and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Services into the State's main association for Health Care Services: Department of Health Care Services. During this time, the emphasis on behavioral health integration continued to grow along with a focus on the Triple Aim (reduced costs, improved quality of care and increased patient satisfaction). CBHA, in turn, focused its advocacy efforts and collaborations on ensuring the continuing changes in the system of care's funding (Realignment 2009 and 2011, plus the repeal of AB 3632) resulted in advancing community-based care and access to services.