Box 4
Example of Integrated Services for Homeless Adults With Serious Mental Illness

  • Program: AB-34 Projects - Named after California Legislation of 2000
  • Goal: To "do whatever it takes" to meet the needs of homeless persons with serious mental illness, whether on the street, under a bridge, or in jail.
  • Features: Outreach (often by formerly homeless people), comprehensive services, 24/7 availability, partnerships with community providers, and real-time evaluation. Flexible funding, not driven by eligibility requirements.
  • Outcomes: 66% decrease in number of days of psychiatric hospitalization, 82% decrease in days of incarceration, and 80% fewer days of homelessness (Figures 3 & 4).
  • Biggest Challenge: To change the culture, attitudes, and values around treating difficult populations with different strategies. Traditional services and providers tend to want to continue "business as usual" and follow funding streams rather than integrate services or share responsibility.
  • How Other Organizations Can Adopt: Change infrastructure to integrate services. This concept is a different way of doing business and requires linkage to a broader array of services, not just mental health.
  • Contact Point: Dr. Stephen W. Mayberg, Director, California Dept. of Mental Health
  • Sites: 38 California counties

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