Transforming
Behavioral Health
Transforming Behavioral Health
California is in the process of reimagining its approach to mental health and substance use disorders, collectively known as behavioral health.
Mental Health for All, launched under Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership, is a bold initiative to build a stronger, more equitable, and more accountable behavioral health system for Californians across their lifespans.
Mental Health for All will work to ensure that every Californian, especially those who have struggled to get help, can access timely, high-quality behavioral health treatment and services. Central to Mental Health for All is a focus on the continuum of care – prevention, early intervention, treatment, and long-term recovery. This approach makes it easier for people to get the right care at the right time leading to better health outcomes and stronger communities across the state.
To learn more, please see the CalHHS Behavioral Health Policy Brief.
Background
Through Mental Health for All, California is taking a population health management approach to improve community well-being and advance health equity. This approach considers all factors that affect health, connecting services across systems, and using data to guide outreach and improvements so that every Californian receives the care they need.
The work has been accelerated by the passage of Proposition 1 in March 2024. It included two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond (Bond) and the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), which reforms behavioral health care funding to prioritize services for people with the most significant needs. See the CalHHS Proposition 1 webpage.
The BHSA and Bond will complement and build on California’s other major behavioral health initiatives to re-envision and transform the state’s behavioral health care system. Initiatives include:
- Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Initiative,
- Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI),
- Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP),
- Behavioral Health Bridge Housing program,
- Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative,
- Behavioral Health Payment Reform,
- Medi-Cal Transformation,
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline,
- Homekey+, and
- Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act, and others.
Behavioral Health Continuum of Care
Through its behavioral health investments, California is building a comprehensive behavioral health continuum. Elements include:
- Increasing access by building care facilities and housing
- Increasing access by growing the behavioral health workforce
- Promoting equity throughout the entire continuum
- Focusing on prevention and early intervention
- Enforcing parity in care
- Strengthening outpatient care
- Investing in crisis care
- Enhancing inpatient care when needed
- Building out supportive care