Merced County releases draft BHSA three-year plan to expand services, housing and early intervention

Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services presented a draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) three-year plan on April 23 that would expand Full-Service Partnership (FSP) programs, housing interventions and early-intervention services across the county.

Sharon Jones, representing BHRS, said the draft—posted for public comment and under state review—identifies roughly 1,424 individuals eligible for FSP and proposes targeted outreach to justice-involved, unhoused, LGBTQ+ and older-adult populations. "Jasmine, the DHCS auditor, complimented the work Merced has been doing and mentioned there were no findings during the chart review," Jones told the council, noting the state team reviewed FSP chart work for Aspiranet, WeCAN and Turning Point CARE and visited the Wellness Center.

The plan sets multi-year county behavioral health expenditure projections—$117.4 million in year one, $119.2 million in year two and $115.4 million in year three—and describes how an annual BHSA base allocation of $23,000,000 would be apportioned: 30% to housing interventions, 35% to FSP and 35% to BH Services & Supports (BHSS). Jones also explained the BHSA requirement that 51% of BHSS funds be directed to early-intervention activities and said the plan includes enhanced monitoring and a standardized level-of-care assessment to support equitable enrollment.

Public comment on the draft was open through April 26; BHRS staff said they will provide a more detailed administrative cost breakdown on request and will continue to refine the draft based on stakeholder feedback. The council will next meet May 28, 2026.