The Transformation Policy and Planning Unit has responsibility for facilitating planning activities and implementing major service initiatives for persons with mental health challenges and co-occurring (mental health and substance abuse) issues.  More recently, these efforts have begun to extend to service initiatives that also involve people who have specific substance abuse challenges.  

General responsibilities and current projects include:

• The system-wide transformation of mental health day programs and behavioral health residential services
• The establishment of Certified Peer Specialists in multiple behavioral health agencies and programs
• Improving housing and residential program services
• Developing of a workforce capacity-building project in partnership with other educational institutions and behavioral health organizations to improve organizational effectiveness in the delivery of treatment and services
• Implementing Advanced Directives and Advanced Planning for service participants throughout our service system
• Completing state- and city-required planning and reporting documents
• Developing and/or coordinating specific training programs to support the recovery transformation initiative in conjunction with department-wide training efforts