Membership Composition of State Mental Health
Planning and Advisory Councils
The set of laws for mental health planning councils is very specific about who must be included on these councils. There are certain participants who are required to be involved:

• Adults with serious mental illness who are receiving (or have received) mental health services or members of their families.
  
  
• Parents of children with emotional disturbances. The ratio of parents of children to other members of the council must be sufficient to provide adequate representation of these children.
  
  
• People representing certain State agencies, including Mental Health, Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Criminal Justice, Housing, Social Services and the State Medicaid Agency.
  
  
• Representatives from both public and private entities concerned with the need, planning, operation, funding and use of mental health services and related support services. This could include individuals from Community Mental Health Centers, State Psychiatric Facilities and other providers.
  
  
• Most importantly, the statute also stipulates that not more than fifty percent (50%) of the members can be from these last two groups (state employees or providers of services.) So at least fifty percent of the council must be consumers and family members.

The Mental Health Block Grant Program
One of the chief responsibilities for any member of a state planning council is to look at their State’s use of mental health block grant monies.

The Mental Health Block Grant Program, administered by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, supports the State creation and expansion of comprehensive, community-based systems of care for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance. Formula grants are awarded to States based upon an allotment calculated for each fiscal year by a legislated formula. Awards are made in response to the States' applications and to the implementation reports submitted by the States for the previous fiscal year. State applications are developed with input from the State Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils and must address the need for services among special populations, such as individuals who are homeless and those living in rural areas.

The goal of the Mental Health Block Grant Program is to help individuals who have a serious mental illness to lead independent and productive lives. It has served as an impetus in promoting and encouraging States to reduce the number of people treated in State psychiatric hospitals, and to develop community-based systems of care.