Tough climate for new mental health chief

SONOMA COUNTY – Even with threats to slash close to $4 billion statewide in mental health funding, newly appointed Sonoma County Mental Health Services Director Mike Kennedy said he is excited about the challenge he inherited when he took office Dec. 11.

“It’s going to be a really difficult couple of years for mental health services,” said Mr. Kennedy, who has a reputation for innovative solutions to mental health care nationally.

“I have always been really energized by opportunities to create more services for underserved populations, and I am excited for the challenge,” he said.

Mr. Kennedy formerly was the Sonoma County mental health section manager with oversight of program operations and design. He was chosen to replace 36-year county employee Art Ewart, who will officially retire in January but is taking vacation days until then. Mr. Ewart led the division for the past four years after serving in four other positions with the county.

Director of Health Services Rita Scardaci sent an official internal notice of Mr. Kennedy’s appointment early last month that said the county made the decision after completing a nationwide search and combing through 20 qualified applicants.

“Mike’s selection is a tribute to his in-depth knowledge of Sonoma County mental health programs and his command of the complexities of the California mental health system,” the Nov. 4 letter said.

In an earlier interview, Mr. Ewart said he plans to continue serving the county on the board of a local nonprofit organization, but he will retire from full-time work.

“I always planned this general time, but I made it official about six months ago,” he said.

Mr. Kennedy took his previous Sonoma County position in 2001 after 13 years with the Larkin Street Youth Center in San Francisco, where he opened the first residential program for young adults dealing with HIV and AIDS.

The father of five teenagers also worked for eight years with the Edgewood Children’s Center in San Francisco. He received his master’s in clinical community psychology from San Jose State University and his bachelor’s in behavioral sciences from State University of New York in Utica.

In his years as section leader for Sonoma County, Mr. Kennedy has played an active role in developing several of the region’s most effective programs, including Forensic Assertive Community Treatment, Conditional Release, Community Intervention, Jail Mental Health Unit and others.

He was awarded a “Heroes in the Fight Award” from the National Alliance on Mental Health this year, and he served as the state liaison for Mental Health Services Act funding.

Mr. Kennedy said he has several main goals for 2009 including the long-anticipated development of an inpatient psychiatric care unit. Once a third party takes over operation of a mental health facility in Santa Rosa, the county will lease beds from the new owner and act as the patient’s rights advocate and hearings officer during legal proceedings.

Mr. Kennedy said his biggest challenge will be preserving core mental health programs as funding is trimmed. Legislators already approved a 10 percent cut to Medi-Cal, a primary source of mental health funding.

Despite those challenges, the new director still plans to implement several new programs, including early intervention in educational institutions.