PAC recommends one-time BHSSA allocations for school behavioral health work, suicide-prevention training and SUD pilots
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Summary
The advisory committee recommended the full commission approve procurement of grant-management software ($200K), a $1.5M amendment to CARS for school suicide-prevention training, $3.6M for substance‑use disorder integration pilots, and $9M for school behavioral health performance systems; votes were symbolic and will go to the full commission.
The Program Advisory Committee considered multiple proposed uses of one-time Behavioral Health Student Services Act (BHSSA) funds and passed symbolic recommendations to forward each item to the full commission. Melissa Martin Molard, deputy director for research evaluation and programs, outlined available one-time funds and recommended encumbering the remaining admin and evaluation buckets to support several priorities.
On the administrative side, staff recommended $200,000 for a grant-management software procurement to strengthen fiscal controls and grant monitoring across the portfolio. The PAC voted to recommend procurement; the motion passed by roll call.
Staff also proposed amending the existing TA contract with the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS) for up to $1.5 million to develop free online suicide-prevention training modules for teachers, staff, parents and students tailored to school settings. Melissa said the modules would convene subject-matter experts, create training modules, and work with state and local agencies to disseminate content. The PAC recommended forwarding that amendment to the full commission (motion passed; vice chair abstained).
A third item was a proposed $3.6 million competitive RFP to pilot substance-use disorder (SUD) prevention/early-intervention integration for justice-involved or at-risk youth in selected BHSSA partnerships across diverse counties. Staff proposed up to five or six existing BHSSA partnerships and geographic diversity for awards; the PAC approved the symbolic recommendation (motion passed; some abstentions noted).
On the evaluation side, staff corrected a slide: $9,000,000 remains in the evaluation bucket. The committee recommended forwarding a $9 million competitive RFP to fund school behavioral health performance-management pilots (up to six local education agencies) to develop metrics and tools for statewide scale. The PAC’s symbolic roll call passed.
Public commenters urged transparency about contractor selection and coordination with state efforts (CDPH/DHCS). Commissioner Swartz asked staff to confirm coordination with CDPH; staff confirmed they have monthly coordination and intend the school-focused modules to align with statewide efforts.
Because PAC votes are advisory under Bagley‑Keene, each recommendation will be placed on the full commission’s January agenda for formal approval and contracting decisions.
Votes at a glance: procure grant-management software — passed (majority aye, vice chair abstained on at least one item noted); amend CARS contract ($1.5M) — passed (vice chair abstained); SUD pilots ($3.6M) — passed (some abstentions); evaluation RFP ($9M) — passed.
