DATE:
April 9, 2024
04
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
ADVANCING MENTAL HEALTH EQUITY: HARNESSING PROPOSITION 1 BOND FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY WELL-BEING (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Proposition 1 is a two-part measure, that will amend the California Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and create a $6.38 billion general obligation bond. The California MHSA will be reconfigured to be the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) which will allow for spending for substance abuse disorders and command spending for non-clinical housing services. Secondly, it creates a $6.38 billion general obligation bond that would fund behavioral health treatment and residential facilities, and supportive housing for veterans and individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness with behavioral health challenges.
The County of San Diego's Behavioral Health Services Department, in collaboration with community providers; Behavioral Health Advocates; and Chairwoman Nora Vargas, have already done substantial work to identify key investments in the behavioral health continuum to optimize care for the County of San Diego and its communities. Specifically, the Board of Supervisors, under the Chairwoman's leadership, has emphasized the importance of equity, social determination of health, and the upstream investments as priorities for the behavioral health continuum.
Today's board action supports the critical steps of strategic planning and ordering of priorities needed to properly inform County advocacy and planning efforts to address our mental health crisis, invest in our community, and ensure an equitable use of bond funds.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHAIRWOMAN NORA VARGAS
1. Direct the Interim Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Behavioral Health Services Director to create a process for seeking and investing Proposition 1 bond funding, informed by data; community advocates; and stakeholders, and return to the board within 120 days with a set of priorities ...
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