Behavioral Health Advisory Council Overview and History

The Washington State Behavioral Health Advisory Council (also referred to as "the Council") previously known as the Mental Health Planning Advisory Council (MHPAC) has a membership consisting of consumers, providers, advocates, and governmental representatives. The membership represents a balanced representation of the state’s population with respect to race, ethnicity, disability, and age, urban and rural. The Council partners with the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery to make decisions that will best serve citizens in need of mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention programs.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has provided an opportunity for States to submit a joint application instead of two individual block grant applications: Community Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment.  Beginning Federal Fiscal Year 2012, Washington State submitted its first Unified Block Grant application.  However, implementation/progress reports for both block grants will remain separate.

SAMHSA also encouraged States with Joint Block Grant applications to create a joint advisory council. Washington State transitions the previous MHPAC into a council that addressed all behavioral health issues: mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, and problem gambling.

The Council operates under Public Law 102-321, and is responsible to perform the following specific duties:

• Review plans provided to the Council by the state, and to submit to the state any recommendations of the Council for modifications of the Plan under the above stated Public Law.

• Monitor, review, and evaluate, not less than once a year, the allocation and adequacy of mental health services within the state.

• Study programs and services, analyze problems, and identify gaps and barriers in the services system.

• Review the materials provided in order to participate in a discussion and analysis of current mental health programs and ancillary services.

• Solicit representative points of view from the communities represented by the Planning Council members concerning mental health issues and disseminate information on mental health issues within those communities.

• Create and manage subcommittees, as it may deem necessary, to facilitate and inform its work.
The Council includes representatives of state agencies, public and private entities concerned with the need, planning, operation, funding and use of mental health services. The Council meets the requirements of Section 1914(c) of the Public Health Service Act, which stipulates that "not less than 50% of the members of the Planning Council shall be individuals who are not State employees, or providers of mental health services." The ratio of parents with children with serious emotional disturbance to other members of the Council also meets the requirement to provide adequate representation of such children in the deliberations of the Council.

History of the Council

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BHAC -- 2013 Meeting Schedule

BHAC -- Agendas

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