News Summary
Anaheim has terminated its contract with Mind OC, which provided mobile mental health services, due to the city’s sufficient alternative resources. Spokesman Mike Lyster explained that the decision was mutual and aligns with ongoing re-evaluations of mental health support. Despite the end of this contract, other cities in Orange County continue to utilize Mind OC’s services. Anaheim is shifting its focus to new initiatives including a street medicine program aimed at enhancing crisis response capabilities, while addressing the needs of the unhoused population.
Anaheim Ends Contract with Mind OC for Mobile Mental Health Services Amid Increasing Demand for Care
The city of Anaheim has officially terminated its contract with the nonprofit organization Mind OC, which has been providing mobile mental health services since mid-2022. This decision is part of a broader reevaluation of mental health resources in the area, coinciding with similar actions from other municipalities such as Newport Beach.
Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster explained that the city has found alternative resources sufficient to meet its mental health needs, including a new street medicine program that enhances crisis response capabilities. The end of the contract with Mind OC was characterized as mutual, indicating that both parties agreed to the decision.
Since Mind OC’s inception, Anaheim has allocated approximately $2.5 million for mobile teams under its agreement, which aimed to address non-violent mental health and substance use crises. However, due to the enhanced abilities of the city’s existing mobile response teams through the Be Well program, these external services are no longer viewed as necessary.
Background on Mind OC and Be Well Initiative
Mind OC was established in 2018 with the mission to improve the mental health care system throughout Orange County. However, it faced scrutiny in recent months, including a significant audit that revealed issues regarding staffing and outcomes, leading to the county’s decision to terminate a $63.8 million contract with Mind OC for the management of the Be Well mental health campus.
Other cities within the county, such as Garden Grove, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and Westminster, continue to utilize Mind OC’s mobile crisis response teams. However, Newport Beach’s city officials recently highlighted that these mobile teams did not sufficiently align with their specific objective of assisting unhoused individuals. Their concerns stemmed from an absence of licensed clinicians who could perform necessary psychiatric holds during emergencies.
Current Mental Health Strategies in Anaheim
In relief efforts for unhoused individuals, Anaheim has engaged another organization, CityNet, for outreach purposes. Furthermore, the city has instituted measures that allow mental health clinicians to be present alongside police officers during crisis situations to ensure comprehensive care is provided. Among recent developments, a newly formed street medicine team has been established, which includes social workers, nurses, and mental health clinicians capable of administering drugs and facilitating access to housing and treatment solutions.
The Bigger Picture
The Be Well initiative aims to ensure that all residents of Orange County, regardless of their ability to pay, can access necessary mental and behavioral health care. The establishment of both Mind OC and the Be Well program arose, in part, as responses to growing criticisms regarding the county’s rising unhoused population as well as the failure to utilize available state funding earmarked for mental health services.
As mental health needs continue to evolve, city officials in Anaheim believe reallocation of resources towards programs that align more closely with current demands is essential. The decision to discontinue the contract with Mind OC reflects an ongoing commitment to address these pressing challenges in effective and innovative ways.
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Additional Resources
- Spectrum News: Anaheim Mental Health Funding
- Wikipedia: Mental Health
- KTLA: Brain Scan Addresses Mental Health Issues
- Google Search: Mental Health Services
- OC Register: CalOptima’s Street Medicine Program Expansion
- Google Scholar: Mental Health Programs
- LAist: Be Well OC Mobile Crisis Response
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mental Health Care
- PR Newswire: Lift Off Recovery Summit in Anaheim
- Google News: Mental Health in California
Author: Anaheim Staff Writer
The Anaheim Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HEREAnaheim.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Anaheim, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as major conventions at the Anaheim Convention Center, including NAMM and VidCon, exciting games at Angel Stadium and Honda Center, and developments at Disneyland Resort Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and Visit Anaheim, plus leading businesses in hospitality, entertainment, and innovation that power the local economy As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECostaMesa.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERESantaAna.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
