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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Accept the Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) grant, administered by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), for the term of execution through June 30, 2026, in the amount of $4,000,000;
2) Delegate authority to the HHSA Director to execute the funding agreement 21MHSOAC049 and related Exhibits; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or designee, to execute and administer any subsequent administrative documents relating to said award, including any amendment(s) that do not increase the amount or term of the agreement contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, and required fiscal and programmatic reports.
FUNDING: 100% Mental Health Services federal funding authorized pursuant to The Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, appropriated through the State Fiscal Recovery Fund, to expand the MHSSA Partnership Grant Program throughout California. No matching funds are required.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On November 1, 2021, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) released a competitive Request for Applications (RFA) for the Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) grant, which solicited applications from California counties in partnership with local educational agencies to apply. The MHSSA was established under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 to be used to promote school mental health and reach, and to serve at-risk children, families and neighborhoods. The ARPA of 2021 provided $100 million through the State Fiscal Recovery Fund, as authorized in the Budget Act of 2021, to the MHSAOC to support grants for partnerships between counties and schools pursuant to the MHSSA and targeted to economically disadvantaged communities throughout California. As identified in the RFA, economically disadvantaged communities is defined as Title 1 schools with free and reduced-price meal programs...
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