The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors earlier this month approved what officials called a “landmark” course of action for implementing the state’s Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29.
At their June 9 meeting, supervisors voted 5-0 for the roadmap to guide spending for behavioral health services and system improvements countywide starting July 1 and continuing through June 30, 2029.
The plan includes roughly $2.35 billion in projected behavioral health spending across all funding sources and allocates an estimated $915.7 million in BHSA funding plus “carryover funds” from the Mental Health Services Act. The funding supports services for children, youth, adults, older adults and families who live in the county, officials reported.
Developed with extensive community planning in mind, the board’s spending protocol “reflects input from residents, individuals with lived experience, families, service providers, community organizations, public agencies, educational institutions, healthcare partners and other stakeholders throughout the region,” according to a county statement.
The plan aligns with the state’s Behavioral Health Services Act, which voters enacted in 2024, and prioritizes strategies that expand access to care, increase housing and supportive services, reduce unnecessary institutionalization, address homelessness, support justice diversion efforts, improve outcomes for youth and families while expanding the behavioral health workforce required to meet growing needs in the community.
“This approval represents more than the adoption of a plan; it represents our commitment to building a behavioral health system that meets people where they are and provides the support they need to thrive,” Board of Supervisors Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement. “This roadmap reflects the voices of our communities and our shared vision of expanding access to care, increasing housing supports and creating pathways to recovery for residents across San Bernardino County.”
The county’s BHSA Integrated Plan establishes priorities and investments that support a full continuum of care, including behavioral health services, officials said. The plan supports outreach and engagement, coordinated specialty care for youth experiencing early signs of psychosis, innovative service models, workforce development initiatives and “housing-focused interventions” designed to improve long-term results to prevent county residents from returning to homelessness.
“The strength of this plan lies in the partnerships that shaped it,” District 2 Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, a commissioner on the county Behavioral Health Commission, said in a statement. “Community members, families, providers, advocates and local organizations helped identify both our challenges and our opportunities. Their input will continue to guide implementation as we work together to reduce barriers to care, address homelessness and ensure every resident has access to the services and supports they need.”
Officials noted that the spending plan is not a static document, but rather it is a “living framework” that will evolve via ongoing collaboration, performance monitoring and community engagement.
“This plan marks an important milestone, but it is not the finish line,” Joshua Dugas, acting director of the county Behavioral Health Department, said in a statement. “Behavioral health transformation is an ongoing process. We remain committed to listening, learning and partnering with our communities as we implement these strategies, measure our progress and adapt to emerging needs. The voices of our residents will continue to shape the future of behavioral health services in San Bernardino County.”
The Behavioral Health Department will continue engaging county residents and business owners throughout implementation of the plan, providing opportunities for community feedback and collaboration to ensure services remain responsive, equitable and effective, officials said.
The Behavioral Health Services Act was established through California’s Proposition 1 reforms and serves as the state’s updated framework for planning and funding behavioral health services. The voter initiative places greater emphasis on serving people with the most significant behavioral health needs, expanding housing interventions, increasing accountability for county officials and contracted service providers and also improving outcomes throughout the county’s behavioral health system.
For more information about the county’s Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan, go to SBCounty.gov/DBH on the internet.
