In late 1998, the California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA) began the process of identifying an Administrative Services Organization (ASO) to manage the provision of specialty mental health services for minors (ages 0-18) who are currently eligible for full scope Medi-Cal benefits and who have been placed out-of-county in kinship placements and in group and foster homes, including Adoptive Assistance Program placements. Our plan was for the ASO to credential mental health providers, authorize outpatient services, and provide a streamlined billing and payment process. The contract was awarded to the national behavioral health company of ValueOptions and the ASO began operations on November 1, 1999.

In February 2004 the CMHDA Governing Board reluctantly voted to discontinue CMHDA's management of the Administrative Services Organization (ASO), effective June 30, 2004.

This decision was made in recognition of two primary concerns:

1. The increasing administrative burden that the ASO program placed on a very limited CMHDA staff; and

2. New and unexpected external circumstances beyond CMHDA's control that would have made it virtually impossible to continue the current model of serving the mental health needs of out-of-county foster care youth.

More on the ASO and Out-of-County Services:

• Termination Announcement
• Obtaining Services
• County Contacts
• Value Options
• Complete Contact List