California Moves Faster to Transform Mental Health System for All

Gov. Newsom  May 15 announced the state is accelerating the first round of funding, made available by Proposition One, to boost California’s ongoing transformation of the statewide Behavioral Health system.

In addition, a new website: MentalHealth.ca.gov, will serve as a one-stop source for people in need of mental health support and includes information about the state’s ongoing behavioral health transformation. Gov. Newsom announced San Mateo County would be an early adopter of the CARE Act, not waiting for the Dec. 1 deadline to help people with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders.

“California is moving full steam ahead, getting funding out faster, and implementing key reforms sooner to better help Californians,” said Gov. Newsom. The status quo is simply unacceptable. People are demanding more accountability, with real results. That is what we are aiming to deliver, but the state cannot do it alone – it is time for local officials to step up and begin to use the tools available to them to make our communities healthier and safer for all. San Mateo has stepped up. Now it’s time for other counties to do the same.”

The Redwood City location is utilizing investments from the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing or BHBH program, which, since 2022, has provided funding to short-term “bridge” housing settings to address the immediate and sustainable housing needs of people experiencing homelessness who have serious behavioral health conditions. Treatment centers and campuses will be possible all across the state thanks to the recently passed $6.38 Billion bond which builds on state-funded construction over the last three years to open new treatment and housing sites with each passing month.

Eligible entities, which include counties, cities, tribal entities, non-profits, and for profits, will be able to apply for funding from the first round of the $6.38 billion bond this summer. This bond application timeline is months ahead of the initial schedule.

In addition to providing resources and guidance on implementing the CARE Act, DHCS is issuing a new FAQ and optional standardized forms related to the modernization of conservatorship (SB 43), to add on to the county guidance released last month. Two counties have already begun implementing, and these new resources are designed to make it clear that counties do not need to wait until the Jan. 1, 2026 deadline to begin implementing this reform to help disabled people in their communities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM

VISIT MentalHealth.CA.Gov