TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director of Health and Human Services Agency
REPORT BY: Gaby Angeles, Staff Services Analyst II
SUBJECT: Approval of the Mental Health Services Act Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Update to the Three-Year Plan for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 to Fiscal Year 2025-2026
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution approving the County’s Mental Health Services Act Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Update to the Three-Year Plan for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 to Fiscal Year 2025-2026. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
The Mental Health Services Act of 2004 (MHSA), passed by the voters as “Proposition 63,” increased overall State funding for the community mental health system by imposing a 1% income tax on California residents with more than $1 million per year in income. The resulting revenue increased State funding for local mental health services by approximately 10%. Nevertheless, the stated intention of the proposition was to “transform” local mental health service delivery systems from a “fail first” model to one promoting intervention, treatment and recovery from mental illness. A key strategy in the act was the prioritization of prevention and early intervention services to reduce the long-term adverse impacts of untreated, serious mental illness on individuals, families and state and local budgets.
MHSA funding in FY 2023-24 supported a range of strategic initiatives designed to strengthen the behavioral health continuum of care. A $1.26 million MHSA allocation was used to reinforce the Capitalized Operating Subsidy Reserve (COSR) for Hartle Court Apartments, a 21-unit permanent supportive housing development serving adults with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Community Services and Supports (CSS) investments included expansion of the Children’s Full Service Partnership through a High-Fidelity Wraparound model for youth involved with Child Welfare and Juvenile Probation.
System Navigators conducted outreach at community events throughout the county, connecting approximately 1,400 residents to behavioral health information and services. The Innovations Community Center (ICC) hosted more than 1,700 activities and engaged over 600 participants, offering peer-led programming focused on art, mindfulness, and social connection for adults and older adults.
Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) efforts continued to emphasize youth wellness, suicide prevention, and targeted community outreach through programs such as Mentis, VOICES, Up Valley Family Centers, and LGBTQ Connection. Concurrently, the County initiated planning for the phase-out of PEI under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) while advocating for future locally supported prevention funding. In addition, the Mobile Response Team (MRT) responded to hundreds of field-based behavioral health crises during its first year of 24/7 operation, expanding timely, community-based crisis intervention.
Requested Action:
1. Adopt a Resolution approving the County’s Mental Health Services Act Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Update to the Three-Year Plan for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 to Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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.