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
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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)
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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 M...
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