TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director of Health and Human Services Agency
REPORT BY: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director of Health and Human Services Agency
SUBJECT: Behavioral Health Services Act Integrated Plan Presentation and Approval of a Resolution regarding the Integrated Plan
RECOMMENDATION
title
Receive a presentation on the Behavioral Health Services Act Integrated Plan and adopt a Resolution for the Board to approve the Plan and authorize the Director of Health and Human Services Agency to make non-substantive revisions to the Plan, if further revisions are requested by the Department of Health Care Services. (No Fiscal Impact)
body
BACKGROUND
The BHSA, passed by voters in March 2024 as Proposition 1, is a major reform of California's behavioral health system. It updates and replaces the 2004 Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). The MHSA created a revenue stream for counties to expand services across five components and was primarily focused on individuals with serious mental illness. BHSA, which goes into effect on July 1, 2026, replaces MHSA and shifts the focus to people with the most severe behavioral health needs while adding treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) expanding housing interventions for people with significant behavioral health needs who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. BHSA also enhances oversight, transparency and accountability. BHSA comes with no increase in behavioral health funding.
Under the new BHSA framework, funding must be applied across three components; Behavioral Health Services and Supports (BHSS), Full Service Partnerships (FSP), and Housing Interventions (HI). The State allows counties to allocate funding within the required components (within defined parameters). HHSA has used this flexibility to preserve critical programs, while aligning with BHSA’s new structure. The proposed distribution of BHSA funding is 45% BHSS, 38% FSP, and 17% HI.
Similar to the 3-year plan requirement under MHSA, counties are required to submit a 3-year BHSA Integrated Plan (IP) covering Fiscal Years 2026-2029 to DHCS by June 30, 2026. Further, DHCS requires counties to project planned expenditures across the next three fiscal years, even though final funding allocations and certain cost assumptions are not yet fully known. In response, HHSA staff developed a best-available, data-informed budget projection based on current programs, known requirements, and reasonable planning assumptions.
In accordance with the process set forth by DHCS, Napa County’s BHSA IP has been provisionally approved by DHCS and the funding allocation set forth in the IP has been fully approved. To arrive at this point, HHSA engaged in an extensive community planning process obtaining stakeholder input, completed the requirement to post the IP for a 30-day comment period, from April 1, 2026, to May 1, 2026, and hold a public hearing on the IP, which was held at the Behavioral Health Board meeting on May 13, 2026 with stakeholder feedback being incorporated throughout the BHSA planning process.
Under California Welfare and Institutions Code §5963.02, final approval from the local Board of Supervisors is a statutory requirement before a county can officially submit its three-year spending plan to DHCS. Therefore, a resolution is being presented to officially approve the IP and also allow HHSA’s Director to make non-substantive revisions to the Plan, due to DHCS’ provisional approval at this time.
Requested Actions:
1. Receive a presentation on the Behavioral Health Services Act Integrated Plan; and
2. Adopt a Resolution approving Napa County’s Behavioral Health Services Act Integrated Plan 2026-2029 and authorizing Health and Human Services Agency Director to make non-substantive revisions to the Integrated Plan if further revisions are requested by the Department of Health Care Services.
FISCAL IMPACT
|
Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
|
Additional Information |
Strategic Initiative: Compassion & Access |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.