The commission authorized staff to issue a competitive request for proposals to provide recruitment, technical assistance and training intended to strengthen performance management at county behavioral health departments and full service partnership (FSP) providers.

Staff described the RFP as a capacity‑building effort that would work directly with FSP providers and county partners to create a learning collaborative, develop reusable training tools and measure outcomes at both the client and program level. The presentation emphasized monthly performance management cycles — tracking client contact, service delivery, staffing and individualized goals — so providers can identify clients who have been on long‑term rosters and ensure services are aligned with recovery goals rather than indefinite maintenance.

“Full service partnerships are our last, stop gap in our preventative efforts, to divert individuals with serious mental illness away from hospitalization, unnecessary hospitalization, incarceration and homelessness,” research scientist supervisor Dr. Kelly Clark said in her presentation. Staff said the proposed RFP would focus on direct provider support and that it was complementary to, not duplicative of, DHCS efforts aimed at county‑level transformation.

Scope and key elements: staff said the procurement will require tools and experience in public‑sector behavioral health, ask for participation across multiple counties/provider teams, and include a client‑and‑peer‑informed learning collaborative to define success measures. Staff proposed an initial award pool of up to $10 million drawn from the Mental Health Wellness Act appropriation that commissioners previously set aside; if the state removes those Wellness Act funds in the May revision the RFP will not move forward.

Motion and outcome: commissioners moved and seconded language authorizing staff to release the RFP; the motion included the phrase that the RFP release would be contingent on availability of resources and commission approval of final procurement documents. The commission instructed staff to return with final solicitation documents and to coordinate timing with DHCS to avoid duplication of county‑level work.

Why it matters: commissioners and public commenters described FSPs as critical to avoid hospitalizations, incarceration and homelessness for people with serious mental illness. Supporters said improved performance management and client‑level data would help providers identify whether clients still need high‑intensity services or can step down to less intensive supports. Critics and some commissioners asked for clarity on how this line of work will relate to other state efforts and whether $10 million is the best short‑term use of limited funds.

What happens next: staff will refine the RFP language, coordinate with the program advisory committee and return to the commission with final solicitation documents and a procurement timeline. The RFP release is subject to the final state budget outcome.