Behavioral Health Menu

Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board

The Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board provides advice to the governing body (Board of Supervisors) and the Director of Behavioral Health. They provide oversight and monitoring of the local mental health system as well as advocate for persons with mental illness.

A primary responsibility of the Mental Health Advisory Board (MHAB) is to review and evaluate the community’s mental health needs, services, facilities, and special problems. The regular MHAB meetings provide a means for Board action to fulfill its purpose. The MHAB chair presides over meetings and prepares the agenda in collaboration with mental health staff. MHAB members may provide items for the agenda to the secretary of the MHAB at least two weeks in advance of the meeting. These meetings are open to the public.

Contact Us - Send us your comments or questions

Mental Health Advisory Board Mission:

To obtain the highest quality and most effective Behavioral Health Services for the County.

Goals:

  • Advise the Behavioral Health Division on current and ongoing issues and potential solutions as they relate to the quality and effectiveness of Behavioral Health Services for the County.
  • Develop skills, identify resources, and utilize best practices to maximize the effectiveness of the Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board.
  • Increase community awareness on issues, services and solutions related to Behavioral Health to ensure inclusion and dissemination of accurate and relevant information.

Advisory Board Members Information

 Application Instructions for Appointment to a County Advisory Board


Xaloc Cabanes
Chair/1st District

Laura Chatham
1st District

Valerie Webb
2nd District

Celeste Gutierrez
4th District

Dean Kashino
2nd District

Hugh McCormick
3rd District

Michael Neidig
Vice-Chair/3rd District

Antonio Rivas
4th District

Jeffrey Arlt
Secretary/5th District

Felipe Hernandez
Board of Supervisors Member

Reports

Presentations

Mental Health Advisory Board Biennial Reports

Community Engagement Newsletters

Patients' Rights Advocate Information

Advocacy, Inc., 5274 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley 95066
A non-profit corporation that provides rights protection and advocacy services for both mental health clients and the elderly. Call (831) 429-1913 or (831) 636-1638 for more information.


Meetings

Mental Health Advisory Board

Meeting Dates Agendas Minutes Video
3/21/24 Agenda    
2/15/24 Agenda   Not Available
1/18/24 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
11/16/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
10/19/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
9/21/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
8/17/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
8/1/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
7/20/23 Agenda Minutes Not Available
6/16/23 Advisory Board Retreat Agenda Minutes

Meeting Video: Part 1

Meeting Video: Part 2

6/15/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
5/18/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
4/20/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
3/23/23 This emergency meeting has been cancelled.
3/16/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
2/16/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
1/19/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video

Subcommittee
Ideal Crisis System

This subcommittee has been dissolved effective December 15, 2022.
There will not be any more notifications of meetings or agendas as this subcommittee has become ad hoc.

 

Subcommittee
Community / Publicity

Meeting Dates Agendas Minutes Video
The Community / Publicity committee has been dissolved effective March 16, 2023.
There will not be any more notifications of meetings or agendas as this subcommittee has become ad hoc.
2/3/23 Agenda Cancelled-No Quorum  
1/6/23 Agenda Cancelled-No Quorum  

Subcommittee
Budget

Meeting Dates Agendas Minutes Video
The Budget standing committee has been dissolved effective April 20, 2023.
There will not be any more notifications of meetings or agendas as this subcommittee has become ad hoc.
4/12/23 Agenda   Meeting Video
3/08/23 Agenda The March meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum.
2/08/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
1/11/23 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video

[Click on plus sign (+) to expand topic / Click on minus sign (-) to collapse topic]

Mental Health Advisory Board

Meeting Dates Agendas Minutes Video
12/15/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
10/20/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
9/15/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
8/18/22 Agenda Minutes

 

Meeting Part 1
Meeting Part 2

 

7/21/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
6/16/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
5/19/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
4/21/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
3/17/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
3/11/22
MHAB Retreat
Agenda Minutes Retreat Part 1
Retreat Part 2
2/17/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
1/20/22 Agenda Minutes  
1/14/22 Meeting Canceled    

Subcommittee
Ideal Crisis System

The Ideal Crisis System standing subcommittee has been dissolved effective December 15, 2022.
Meeting Dates Agendas Minutes Video
12/9/22 Agenda   Meeting Video
10/14/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
9/9/22 Agenda Cancelled-No Quorum  
8/12/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
7/8/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
6/10/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
5/13/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video

Subcommittee
Community / Publicity

Meeting Dates Agendas Minutes Video
12/2/22 Agenda Cancelled-No Quorum  
11/4/22 Agenda Cancelled-No Quorum  
10/7/22 Agenda   Meeting Video
9/2/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
8/5/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
7/1/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video

Subcommittee
Budget

Meeting Dates Agendas Minutes Video
12/14/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
11/9/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
10/12/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video
9/14/22 Agenda Cancelled-No Quorum  
8/10/22 Agenda Minutes Meeting Video