LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 101.01 Changing of Geographic Boundaries Relating to Mental Health Service Delivery
 
Policy Category:  Administrative
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated and Contractors
Responsible Party: Quality Assurance
 
Approved by Marvin J. Southard, DSW, Director, on May 1, 2002
I.  PURPOSE
 
Each Mental Health Service Area within the County of Los Angeles has been divided into geographic areas to facilitate administration and coordination of services. This policy is to provide standards for establishing and changing geographic boundary areas in order to ensure effective mental health service delivery.
 
II. DEFINITIONS
 
There are no definitions associated with this policy.
 
III.  POLICY
 
The Department of Mental Health (DMH) shall have mental health geographic boundaries within Los Angeles County Service Areas. Any proposed Boundary Definitions, including changes to existing boundaries, shall take into consideration the guidelines listed below. However, the list is not exhaustive and other issues may be entertained as determined by the Director.
  1. Boundary streets must conform to census tract boundaries.
     
  2. Existing incorporated city boundaries remain intact, i.e., an incorporated city will not be split.
     
  3. School communities (based on high school attendance) and neighborhoods (based on elementary school attendance) remain intact when feasible.
     
  4. Geographic Areas within Service Areas optimally function with a population of less than 600,000.
     
  5. Population characteristics which may describe the level of need (available from the Department of Health Services and the Children's Planning Council):
  • Demographics
  • Unemployment rate
  • Immigration
  • Illiteracy
  • Prevalence of illness
  • Existing clients or ratio of existing clients to population
  • Number of existing Medi-Cal clients
  • Level of poverty
  1. Recommendations of Proposed Boundary Definitions will encompass the review of the following indicators in light of budget considerations and implement them when feasible:
  • Existing mental health facilities and agencies for treatment shall be labeled primary or specialty and mapped.
     
    • Primary — lead agencies, district offices, state and county hospitals, CMHCs.
    • Specialty — providers that serve specific populations such as children or older adults.
    • Utilization capacity of agencies or facilities (current and projected number of staff and size of facility).
    • Location of non-mental health and human services (schools,
    • general hospitals, etc.).
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
V.  AUTHORITIES
 
Budget Act of 1983
Department of Mental Health Policy
 
VI. ATTACHMENTS
 
There are no attachments associated with this policy.