Mental Health Systems Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS.
- Income
- $100.5 million
- Spending
- $98.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 890
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $325,355, ceo/president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (mental health, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 118% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (mental health, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $49.5 million spent. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: MHS PROVIDES SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN, TRANSITION AGED YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES THROUGH A VARIETY OF TREATMENT MODALITIES, ALL OF WHICH ARE BASED ON BIO-PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT OF EACH PERSON AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH UNIQUE NEEDS, PERSPECTIVES, AND CHALLENGES. ALONG WITH STABILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, OUR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AND ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE VARIOUS FACTORS THAT PERPETUATE AN INDIVIDUAL'S STRUGGLES IN ORDER TO BOLSTER RESILIENCY AND MINIMIZE VULNERABILITY. SERVICES ARE GEARED TOWARD SUPPORTING CLIENTS' AUTONOMY, MASTERY, AND CONFIDENCE IN LIVING A HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, SATISFYING LIFE.
- $18.7 million spent. SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES MHS'S TREATMENT FOCUS RECOGNIZES THAT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS ARE OFTEN A SYMPTOM OF AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM. FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES, BUT RATHER AN ATTEMPTED SOLUTION TO DEEPER ISSUES. MHS UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN SUPPORTING A CLIENT'S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAM SERVICES. ENGAGEMENT BEGINS AT THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT, AND EARLY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT ARE CRITICAL TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES AND INCREASING THE PROMISE OF RECOVERY. TREATMENT EFFORTS FOCUS ON RESOLVING THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT LEAD TO SUBSTANCE USE WHILE ASSISTING CLIENTS IN DEVELOPING HEALTHY COPING MECHANISMS. THE MHS TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY IS GROUNDED IN A COGNITIVEBEHAVIORAL RESTRUCTURING MODEL AND BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION, ADDRESSING CHANGES IN THE ABILITY TO PROCESS AFFECT AND BUILD ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS COMMUNICATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND RELAPSE PREVENTION. MHS TREATS THE WHOLE PERSON BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, MOTIVATION, AND ONGOING SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE CHANGE PROCESS.
- $13.4 million spent. HOUSING SERVICES MHS UNDERSTANDS THAT SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING IS A CRITICAL PLATFORM FOR CLIENT STABILITY. SERVICES THAT INTEGRATE ELEMENTS ADDRESSING AN INDIVIDUAL'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS OFTEN ENHANCE ENGAGEMENT. ADDRESSING THESE BARRIERS AS SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF CLINICAL CARE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE PARTICIPATION AND OUTCOMES. MHS'S UNPARALLELED EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP IN DEVELOPING HOUSING OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IS A KEY RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. MHS RECOGNIZES THE RESOURCES, TIME, AND SIGNIFICANCE REQUIRED TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE THIS TARGET POPULATION. MHS ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AS A BARRIER TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENTAND TO PROGRESS TOWARD RECOVERYARE OFTEN DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. THESE INDIVIDUALS FREQUENTLY FACE CHALLENGES OBTAINING NECESSARY MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, CREATING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. BASED ON MHS'S DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THESE CHALLENGES AND ITS DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT AND MANAGE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING RESOURCES, SERVICES ARE FURTHER STRENGTHENED THROUGH MHS'S EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING MASTER LEASES FOR HOUSING UNITS WHERE SUBSIDIES CAN BE UTILIZED. THIS PROGRAM MODEL PROVIDES CLIENTS WITH A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PLATFORM UPON WHICH RELEVANT TREATMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES CAN BE ACCESSED, PROMOTING OPTIMAL RECOVERY AND AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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