Mental Health: Orange County allocates $5.6 million to increase services for children and at-risk youth

(Santa Ana, CA) April 26, 2018 – The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a contract Tuesday with Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) for mental health services for children and Transitional Age Youth, those ages sixteen to twenty-four who are in transition from state custody or foster care.

 “Mental health services are needed now more than ever,” said Supervisor Andrew Do. “Addressing mental health at an early stage will give these children the tools to succeed in the future.”

According to CHOC Children’s Foundation, one out of five children suffers from a mental health condition.

In the $5,652,581 contract, CHOC will provide direct mental health care; medication support services; individual, group and family therapy; crisis intervention; case management; and supportive services in the community targeting job acquisition, school success and housing stability. Crisis support services will be available 24/7.

CHOC currently has a co-occurring clinic that works with children and adolescents who are experiencing mental health symptoms along with chronic medical conditions. Referrals to this new program would come from their co-occurring clinic, but also from the community and other clinics in the county. This program would be on their campus off Main Street in Orange.

If you know a child with a mental health issue or are need help in deciphering your child’s condition, you can call CHOC at 714-509-8481.

CHOC recently celebrated the completion of Orange County’s only mental health Crisis Stabilization Units for children under 12.

Over 85 percent of the funding of this new $5.6 million program comes from the County through the Mental Health Services Act/Prop 63. Last month, the County approved Chairman Andrew Do’s request for an audit of more than $219 million in mental health spending in an effort to improve programs and better coordinate services with the county’s homeless response.

On May 8, 2018, Supervisor Do will be recognizing the Month of May as Mental Health Month in Orange County to increase awareness of mental health and destigmatize the issue.