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    4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Why does behavioral health matter? Behavioral Health matters because healthy people make healthy societies. It's clear that having funding for behavioral health is critical not merely because it helps the person with behavioral health needs — allowing folks who need behavioral health services to continue to be productive members of society. MORE
    Why does behavioral health matter? I think the state needs to pass single-payer healthcare. I myself am a recovering heroin addict, and without the Affordable Care Act, in particular changing the age a child terms out of their parents insurance coverage and the expansion of Medical, saves my life. I was able to get the help I needed to stay away from opioids and other drugs for nearly four years now.  MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? As I mentioned above, one of the ways California can lead the way is by slowing down the jailing and imprisonment of people who suffer from mental health/substance abuse disorders.  Another way California could lead is by ensuring law enforcement agencies across the state have the training necessary to deescalate situations with individuals that may have Behavioral Health issues, without having to use force. Many times the practices of law enforcement agencies have the unintended consequence of escalating a situation with people who have mental health issues.  MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? I absolutely will commit to making behavioral health a priority. MORE
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    4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Why does behavioral health matter? Behavioral health is essential to stable communities and a productive economy. Many of our great challenges including crime and homelessness correlate to our under-resourced behavioral health system and related institutions. MORE
    What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges? Increase investment in capacity including expanding our pool of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) by incentivizing and promoting education pathways and accommodating workplace training and career pathways. MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? Invest in treatment facilities, intervention and services intended to address mental health and reintegrate individuals into productive stable lives. MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? Yes, I currently manage a PMHNP education capacity program through the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for San Bernardino County. Based on this experience, we have much more work to do to meet capacity needs and look forward to developing legislation to advance necessary behavioral health policy. MORE
  • full q+a
    5 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Why does behavioral health matter? Behavior health affects most everyone in some way or another whether a friend, family member or co-worker. MORE
    What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges? I believe California has begun to respond to the mental health issue, but we can do much better. MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? One message at a time. Through education and community awareness, involvement, interest and support. MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? Yes, I am willing to work towards bringing real solutions to implement prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery support. MORE
    Thank you for reaching out to me regarding this important issue. I’m not responding because it’s another form to fill out as a candidate, but I’m responding because I too am very concerned about the issues of mental health, substance use and homelessness. MORE
  • full q+a
    4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Behavioral health is important as it refers to – and works to address – mental and substance abuse issues. The connection between behavioral health and physical health are inextricably linked and can exacerbate each other if not detected and treated. An individual living with a chronic health condition may be at higher risk to develop a mental health disorder, such as depression, which can increase one’s risk to develop a substance dependency. These comorbidities can further increase one’s chances of other issues including homelessness or involvement in the criminal justice system. This is certainly not the case for the majority of those living with these conditions. As a former prosecutor, I witnessed the impact behavioral health has on an individual through a criminal justice lens. MORE
    What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges? Like much of the rest of the country, California must make more of a commitment to expanding access to care and treatment for those living with a mental illness and those struggling with substance abuse. The state did well to expand Medi-Cal, as Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health services in the United States. This was a tremendous step to serving our state and providing coverage. MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? Destigmatizing behavioral health conditions is an ongoing issue the state and the country face. California must ensure that those living with mental health illness have adequate access to coverage and treatment. Further, through the integration of care, California may further link physical and behavioral health issues as intertwined and craft policies that work to treat them as such. MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? I will continue to be a strong advocate for behavioral health as a public policy priority. Before entering Congress, I fought for the implementation of a Veterans Treatment Court in Monterey County, and bring that same commitment with me to Washington, D.C. Ensuring that federal funding and services are available to address juvenile and adults with behavioral health issues is critical to the long-term health of our country. MORE
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