Mental Health Licensing & Certification Branch

The Mental Health Licensing & Certification (MHLC) Branch of the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is responsible for the licensing of psychiatric and rehabilitation care facilities, and the approval and/or certification of mental health programs on a statewide basis, ranging from acute to long-term programs. MHLC Branch is responsible for implementing and maintaining a system to ensure compliance with licensing requirements, as specified in state statutes, for the entire range of 24-hour psychiatric and rehabilitation care facilities, including Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers (MHRCs), Psychiatric Health Facilities (PHFs) and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs). MHLC Branch responsibilities include the implementation of civil and monetary sanctions, including cease and desist orders, on DHCS' licensed mental health facilities, as well as procedures for the appeal of an administrative action. MHLC Branch is also responsible for the approval of 5150 facilities designated by the counties throughout the State of California for the purpose of 72-hour treatment and evaluation under Welfare and Institutions Code (W&I) Code Section 5150 of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and the Children's Civil Commitment and Mental Health Treatment Act, W&I Code Sections 5585.50/5585.55. In addition, the MHLC Branch collects data on a quarterly basis from each county mental health program or facility on the number of involuntary detentions, the number of temporary and permanent conservatorships established, and the number of persons receiving outpatient services provided within a jail facility. MHLC Branch provides oversight and determines compliance with state law, regulations and other governing requirements for residential mental health treatment programs that serve children and adults. Additionally, MHLC Branch is responsible for conducting Institution for Mental Disease (IMD) determinations for facilities in accordance with the IMD guidelines issued in sections 4390 and 4390.1 of the State Medicaid Manual. To initiate the IMD determination process, please contact MHLC Branch via phone at (916) 323-1864 or email at MHIMD@dhcs.ca.gov.

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File a Complaint

Any person may submit a complaint to DHCS concerning the operation of an MHRC, PHF, or PRTF. To file a complaint against an MHRC, PHF, or PRTF, please fill out the online  Complaint Form and click “Submit” at the bottom of the page.

A complaint may also be filed orally or in writing. The complaint should specify enough details of the alleged violation to enable DHCS to determine the date and time, who was involved, and what the violation was. If you prefer to file your complaint by phone, email, fax, or mail, please use the MHLC Branch Complaint Contact Information below. Please note, complainants will not be automatically notified of the outcome of a complaint. However, a complainant may request the outcome upon closure of the investigation, and a Public Records Act (PRA) request will be initiated on the complainant's behalf. If you are not the complainant and would like information regarding the outcome of a complaint after it is closed, please submit a PRA request. For more information on the PRA process, please visit the  Public Records Act  home page.

Complaint Contact Information

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