Mission:
The general mission of the Service Area Advisory Committees is to enhance the quality of mental health services by collaborating with stakeholders and the Department of Mental Health in an advisory capacity, identifying, planning for and addressing current and emerging mental health needs in each service area to strengthen recovery, wellness, and resiliency.
Vision:
The SAAC:
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as a local planning body to partner and gather community input, analyze
information, prioritize programs, and integrate services tailored to the
service area;
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as an advisory body to provide DMH with ongoing feedback on existing or
proposed programs including modification of programs, policies, and
budgets for the service area;
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as an information body to provide DMH with a vehicle to support and assist
with the coordination of mental health programs and services within the
service area;
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as a networking and advocacy body.
Core Values:
The core values that guide the Department of Mental Health are:
· Integrity: We conduct ourselves professionally according to the highest ethical
standards.
· Respect: We recognize the uniqueness of every individual and treat all people
in a way that affirms their personal worth and dignity.
· Accountability: We take responsibility for our choices and their outcomes.
· Collaboration: We work together toward common goals by partnering with the
whole community, sharing knowledge, building consensus, and sharing
decision-making.
· Dedication: We will do whatever it takes to improve the lives of our clients and
communities.
· Transparency: We openly convey our ideas, decision, and outcomes to ensure
trust in our organization.
· Quality and Excellence: We identify the highest personal, organizational,
professional, and clinical standards and commit ourselves to achieving
those standards by continually improving every aspect of our
performance.
HISTORY OF THE SERVICE AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEES
The Service Area Advisory Committees (hereinafter SAAC) began as the Regional
Community Liaison Committees (RCLC). In July of 1978, the Los Angeles County
Board of Supervisors established the Department of Mental Health (DMH) as separate
from the Department of Health. Back then, the County had designated five ‘Regions’
through which services were delivered. One of the very first acts of the newly formed
DMH was to establish the RCLC system. The original RCLC was envisioned to serve
as the community arm of the County of Los Angeles mental health system. Beginning
on October 27, 1978, the RCLCs provided local providers and consumers a means to
have their input heard with regard to the Department of Mental Health’s programs,
activities, and goals.
In 1985, the Board of Supervisors reexamined the delivery of services to the County’s
growing population and increasing diversity and reapportioned the five Regions into
eight Service Areas. To increase planning among other county service agencies
another reconfiguration occurred to Service Area boundaries in 1994 to what they are
today. The RCLCs were thus transformed into the Service Area Advisory Committees
(SAAC) and charged with a similar purpose within the Department. This purpose
consists of four primary functions:
· as a local planning body to partner and gather community input, analyze
information, prioritize programs, and integrate services tailored to the service
area;
· as an advisory body to provide DMH with ongoing feedback on existing or
proposed programs including modification of programs, policies, and budgets
for the service area;
· as an information body to provide DMH with a vehicle to support and assist
with the coordination of mental health programs and services within the
service area;
· as a networking and advocacy body.
Like the RCLC system, the SAACs seek to involve the widest possible array of
consumers, providers, family members, government representatives and interested
citizens to share in the mission of the Department “to enrich lives through partnerships
designed to strengthen the community’s capacity to support recovery and resiliency.”