Behavioral Health Planning Council

What is (UBHPAC)?

Utah’s public behavioral health system is paid for in part by two federal block grants: the Mental Health Block Grant and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. As part of federal law 102-321 (the Public Service Act), any state receiving funding from these block grants must support a Planning and Advisory Council with peer/consumer representation.

The UBHPAC is a group of people who support and advocate for services for people who use public behavioral health services by planning and advising the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.

The UBHPAC is responsible for looking at plans for the use of block grant funds, advising the state authority (SUMH) on block grant plans and revisions, serving as an advocate for people affected by mental illness and or substance use disorder, and monitoring and evaluating the level of services in Utah. (PSA 102-321 sec 1914)

How does the Utah Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council (UBHPAC) work with the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (SUMH)?

SUMH is the state’s public mental health and substance abuse authority. SUMH staff write and manage the Mental Health Block Grant and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. SUMH staff also support the UBHPAC council.

SUMH staff do not Chair the UBHPAC or any committee; SUMH staff attend UBHPAC meetings and work with UBHPAC committees as support staff only. The UBHPAC membership includes peers and consumers, family members, agency representatives, treatment providers, advocacy organizations, and many others.

The UBHPAC is an open, public meeting supported by SUMH, and is regularly held on the first Thursday of each month at the State Office in Salt Lake City