1. Public Health Investigation: Why Mental Health Services Matter
A Close Look at Alcohol Abuse for Adolescent Youth Under Age 18
in Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties

2. Goals of this Interdisciplinary Task
Explore an important issue that impacts local communities in California
Santa Clara County
Stanislaus County
Use math as a tool to make sense of complex issues
Use math in such a way as to represent data in a clear and convincing manner    

3. Learning Objectives
Students will analyze real world data by using ratios, graphs, and tables.
Students will use mathematical representations (tables and graphs) to make an argument about the extent to which two California counties are serving the mental health needs of their populations.

4. Why Alcohol and Drug Abuse Matters
Drug abuse (including alcohol) is the number one cause of preventable illness and death in the U.S.
One in four deaths in the U.S. is attributable to alcohol, tobacco, or drug abuse
Over nine million Americans need drug treatment
Approximately 2.5 million Americans suffered from both mental illness and substance abuse in 2008
In 2008, the overall costs of substance abuse in the U.S. exceeded half a trillion dollars annually
Note: All data taken from County of Santa Clara Department of Alcohol and Drug Services Health Agenda Report, 2010

6. Why Alcohol and Drug Abuse Matters in This Community
For Santa Clara County:
62% of high school students reported ever drinking alcohol
10.6% reported binge drinking
Note: All data taken from Santa Clara County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Services Strategic Plan (2007)

7. An Overview of the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63)
Passed by California voters in November of 2004
Expands county health services for the state of California by transforming community based mental health services and supports.
Full Service Partnerships are one way that counties provide mental health services to their clients.

8. An Overview of Full Service Partnerships
The Mental Health Services Act was intended to move mental health care services toward a recovery model and has been highly successful.
Full Service Partnerships improve housing, employment, and education outcomes as well as decrease arrests and mental health-related emergency room use.
Full Service Partnerships increase functioning, outcomes of services, and general satisfaction compared to usual care, and these improvements are large.

9. Effectiveness of Full Service Partnerships
The Mental Health Services Act was intended to move mental health care services toward a recovery model and has been highly successful.
Full Service Partnerships improve housing, employment, and education outcomes as well as decrease arrests and mental health-related emergency room use.
Full Service Partnerships increase functioning, outcomes of services, and general satisfaction compared to usual care, and these improvements are large.
NOTE: All data taken from the Petris Center Study, UC Berkeley, 2010