Health Commission adopts CARE Task Force priorities to expand behavioral‑health supports

The San Francisco Health Commission voted unanimously to adopt a resolution prioritizing recommendations from the CARE Task Force aimed at closing service gaps in behavioral health.

The commission accepted a package of short‑term priorities presented by Lani Kent of the mayor’s office that includes adding a family specialist to support crisis‑affected families, five peer specialists to staff a psychiatric respite center near San Francisco General Hospital, two additional intensive‑case‑manager FTEs and expansion of the community independent placement project beyond the public hospital system. The resolution also endorses a transitional‑age‑youth specialist position and longer‑term work on cross‑agency health information sharing.

Director Barbara Garcia said the department had already allocated most of the recommended items from Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds and is implementing several programs now; she identified health information exchange (HIE) as a remaining unfunded and technically complex piece that will require further planning. "We will bring back the allocation detail and identify those items we still need funding for," Garcia said.

Commissioners asked whether the resolution could inadvertently force reprioritization of other departmental work. Garcia and Kent said DPH reviewed the priorities before proposing them and will return with a breakdown showing which items are funded and which require new resources. Several commissioners asked for a follow‑up report tying priorities to budget implications and timelines. The commission approved the resolution by voice vote with no opposition.

The commission directed staff to provide a progress update at the next meeting and to continue briefing the commission as DPH refines implementation plans and funding allocations.