Board approves state diversion funding agreement and outpatient provider master agreements; asks for recidivism data

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on June 24 approved multiple behavioral‑health actions: the county will accept a five‑year diversion funding agreement from the California Department of State Hospitals, the board authorized a master agreement with individual and group providers for outpatient specialty mental‑health services effective July 1, 2025, and approved county participation as a specialty mental‑health and supportive‑services provider in a Housing Authority grant application (the COSI Builds program).

Susan Hall, behavioral health director, told the board the diversion funding is intended to serve justice‑involved individuals with serious mental‑health needs and that the court retains the final authority to divert or not. Hall said the diversion statute and court authority define which…