On this page:

• • • Current Innovation Projects
    • Innovation Idea Survey
    • Past Innovation Project Reports

The MHSA Innovation component is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of new or changed practices in the field of mental health, with a primary focus on learning rather than filling a need or a gap. Five percent of the MHSA funds are dedicated to the Innovation component. Each project must be approved by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Innovation projects are designed and implemented for a defined time period (maximum of five years), after which an alternative source of funding must be identified if the project is deemed successful.

Innovation projects must serve one or more of the following purposes:

• • • • Increases access to mental health services to underserved groups
      • Increases the quality of mental health services, including measured outcomes
      • Promotes interagency and community collaboration related to mental health services or supports or outcomes
      • Increases access to mental health services, including but not limited to, services provided through permanent supportive housing
        

Innovation provides county-administered mental health systems in California the opportunity to "try out" new or changed approaches that can inform current and future mental health practices. These projects can contribute to learning in one or more of the following ways:

• • • • Introduces a new practice or approach to the overall mental health system, including, but not limited to, prevention and early intervention
        
      • Makes a change to an existing practice in the field of mental health, including, but not limited to, application to a different population.
      • Applies a promising community-driven practice or approach that has been successful in a non-mental health context or setting to the mental health system
        
      • Supports participation in a housing program designed to stabiliza a person's living situation while also providing supportive services onsite

For more details about Innovation project requirements and regulations, please visit the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission website. 

Current Innovation Projects

Tri-City Mental Health has three MHSA Innovation projects. Please check our calendar for upcoming Innovation workshops, meetings and project activities. 

1. Community Planning Process for Innovation Project(s)

FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26

This proposal seeks approval to utilize Innovation funds in the amount of $675,000 over three years to develop a robust and effective strategic community planning process and related activities resulting in future Innovation plans that are calculated, meaningful, and effective. This three-year project is expected to commence in FY 2023-24, pending approval from the MHSOAC, and conclude in FY 2025-26. This draft project is posted for a 30-day public review and comment period from August 11, 2023 to September 12, 2023.

Community Planning Procces Documents

MHSA INN Plan: Community Planning Process for Innovation Project(s) 
Plan de MHSA INN: Proceso de Planificación Comunitario para Proyecto (s) de Innovación 

2. Multi-County Collaborative Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs)

Tri-City’s Innovation Project, Multi-County Collaborative Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs), was posted for a 30-day public review and comment period from March 11, 2022 to April 12, 2022, and was approved by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC). 

This three-year project is the product of four months of community workgroup discussions which incorporated the results of Tri-City’s Community Planning Survey and new Innovation Idea Survey. Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) are used to support treatment decisions for people who may not be able to consent to or participate in treatment decisions because of a mental health condition. A psychiatric advance directive allows a person’s wishes and priorities to inform mental health treatment.

For additional information, visit the PADs CA website.

3. Help@Hand Project

January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2024

This project is being implemented in 14 counties across California and will bring interactive technology tools into the public mental health system through a highly innovative set or “suite” of applications designed to educate users on the signs and symptoms of mental illness, improve early identification of emotional/behavioral destabilization, connect individuals seeking help in real time, and increase user access to mental health services when needed. Counties will pool their resources through the Joint Powers Authority, CalMHSA, to jointly manage and direct the use of selected technology products.

More information about the Help@Hand state-wide effort can be found at https://helpathandca.org/

Help@Hand Documents

Increasing Access to Mental Health Services and Supports Utilizing a Suite of Technology-Based Mental Health Solutions

Help@Hand Statewide Evaluation: Year 3 Report (Quarter 1 and Quarter 2)

Help@Hand Learning Objectives

Innovation Idea Survey

Residents, community groups, service providers and organizations alike in Pomona, Claremont or La Verne play a significant role in fostering innovation in Tri-City Mental Health services and supports. The Innovation Idea Survey is available for community members to share their ideas about new Innovation projects and answer the key questions necessary to meet the Innovation component guidelines. 

To propose a new Innovation program, click the following link: Innovation Idea Survey

Innovation Project Worksheet

Past Innovation Project Reports

MHSA Innovation Plan - Proposed Projects (Amended)
Innovation Work Plan
MHSA Innovation Project Evaluation Reports:

• • • • • Cognitive Redmediation Therapy (CRT)
        • Employment Stability Project (ESP)