Commission preview: plain‑language BHSA stakeholder toolkit to help community members engage in planning

Assistant Deputy Director Ryan Kompczyk presented a preview of a plain‑language stakeholder toolkit designed to help community members participate in the BHSA integrated community planning process.

Kompczyk said the toolkit is written at roughly an eighth‑grade reading level, includes a glossary of acronyms and plain explanations of the who/what/when/where/how of county community planning, and features printable worksheets, sample scripts for commenters and links to county calendars. He said the toolkit will include guidance on technological accommodations, interpreter services, transportation assistance, and a set of preparatory worksheets community members can use to be ready for planning meetings.

Kompczyk described the development process: partner interviews, listening sessions with community members (including language‑access participants), and reviews of county examples such as the CalMHSA/Cal MESA guidebook. He said the first iteration will be released in January with a webinar and later translated into multiple languages, noting county‑level nuance and requests for non‑threshold language translations.

Commissioners praised the accessible design and recommended additional pages listing other ways to engage locally (for example, local mental health boards and county behavioral health meetings). Public commenters commended the plain‑language approach and urged careful human review and piloting of translated materials rather than relying on automated translation.

Kompczyk said the team will accept ongoing feedback after the January release and update the toolkit to address translation, inclusion and outreach needs.