Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Behavioral Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves behavioral‑health solicitations, contract extensions and MHSA grant acceptance
Summary
Supervisors authorized competitive solicitations, sole‑source procurements and several contract extensions across behavioral‑health services totaling an estimated $98.9 million and accepted $800,000 in Mental Health Student Services Act funds for youth screening and suicide prevention planning.
The Board of Supervisors approved a package of behavioral‑health procurement actions and grant acceptance intended to expand capacity for mental health and substance‑use services across San Diego County.
County Behavioral Health presented four recommendations: authorize competitive solicitations for 24‑hour Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers, locum tenens clinical staffing, children and youth crisis stabilization units, and training/technical assistance for community providers; approve single‑source contracts for certain specialized programs (including an adult substance use outpatient program and school‑based outpatient services where providers are selected by school districts); and extend five existing contracts to ensure continuity during system transitions. The total estimated investment across recommended solicitations and extensions was presented as $98,900,000. The board also authorized acceptance of $800,000 in Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) funds to support school‑based screening and the COPES suicide‑prevention planning team.
Presenters said the children’s crisis stabilization unit diverts roughly 70% of youth admissions from hospitalization and that school‑based services reached 393 schools through School Link in fiscal year 2023‑24. Community providers urged extensions for prevention programs that reach priority populations, and supervisors emphasized capacity building and the need for careful consideration of any sole‑source requests.
The board voted unanimously to approve the recommendations.
