Board actions – Oct. 21 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

A "San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Meeting Actions" banner with five members standing in front of the County Government Center. — *The Board of Supervisors took several actions during its regular board meeting on Oct. 21*

The Board of Supervisors approved several actions, including supporting an emergency response program and reentry resource access initiative through the District Specific Priorities Program, coordinating mental health and substance use services for Medi-Cal recipients, expanding access to preventative dental services in the High Desert, providing nursing services for rural school districts, expanding supportive housing services for former foster youth, and accepting public safety grants to hire firefighter paramedics and expanding traffic safety efforts across the county.

Board supports Arrowhead Regional’s emergency response program and reentry resource access

The Board of Supervisors approved supporting two community initiatives funded through Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District-Specific Priorities Program, totaling $20,000:

A $10,000 contract with the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Foundation will assist with costs associated with its Annual Gala and Awards Dinner events in 2025 and 2026. These events honor health care employees, strengthen community engagement and raise funds to support Arrowhead Regional’s Disaster and Emergency Response Program, including its Hospital Emergency Response Team.
A second $10,000 contract with Community Reciprocity Development will support a two-day Resource Clinic and Career Development Workshop in San Bernardino County. The event will provide justice-involved, unhoused and low-income residents with access to reentry services, disability support and career-building tools.

Behavioral Health partners with Kaiser Foundation to coordinate Medi-Cal mental health and substance use services

San Bernardino County Behavioral Health is entering into a non-financial memorandum of understanding with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to coordinate Medi-Cal mental health and substance use disorder services for eligible county residents. The three-year agreement, effective Oct. 21, 2025, through Oct. 20, 2028, with two optional one-year extensions, establishes protocols for care coordination between Kaiser’s Managed Care Plan and Behavioral Health’s Mental Health Plan and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System.

The partnership ensures that Medi-Cal members receive seamless access to specialty mental health and substance use disorder treatment through Behavioral Health’s network of county-operated and contracted providers. In 2025–26, Kaiser is expected to assume responsibility for approximately 3,500 Medi-Cal members previously allocated to the Inland Empire Health Plan.

The partnership will help achieve the Countywide Vision by fostering interagency collaboration and enhancing the delivery of coordinated client-centered behavioral health services that promote the well-being of county residents.

Expanded access to preventative dental services in the High Desert

The board approved San Bernardino County Public Health’s $262,000 contract with the Center for Oral Health to provide a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice services to expand access to preventative dental care in medically underserved areas and for vulnerable populations throughout the county, for the period of Oct. 21, 2025, through Oct. 20, 2026. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and 1991 realignment funds, this initiative will deliver services at two school-based sites — Apple Valley Head Start and Ontario Maple Head Start, as well as through a mobile dental unit that will rotate among remote communities and local outreach events.

These services include dental screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, provided in settings beyond traditional dental offices and without the direct supervision of a dentist, as The Center for Oral Health brings extensive experience serving children, seniors and rural residents across California.

This partnership reflects the Countywide Vision goal of improving all residents’ oral health and ensuring they have access to preventative oral care.

Public Health to provide nursing services for rural school districts

San Bernardino County Public Health is entering into revenue agreements with the Baker Valley Unified, Lucerne Valley Unified, Mt. Baldy Joint Elementary and Trona Joint Unified school districts to support state-mandated school nursing services through June 30, 2026. Under the agreements, Public Health will provide hearing, vision and scoliosis screenings along with immunization consultations and referrals for students at schools within these rural school districts. The county has provided these essential services to school districts lacking dedicated nursing staff for more than 45 years, ensuring students receive early interventions that support their health and educational success.

Public Health expects to conduct approximately 3,300 screenings during the agreement period, with the school districts reimbursing the county at a rate of approximately $179 per hour, resulting in estimated revenue of $55,200.

Board expands supportive housing services for former foster youth

The board approved amendments to two contracts to expand Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) services for young adults formerly in foster care. The contract with Aspiranet was increased by $400,000 to a total of $6.4 million and extended through Feb. 28, 2026. Similarly, the contract with Walden Environment, Inc., dba Walden Family Services, was increased by $400,000 to a total of $1.9 million, with the same contract extension.

THP-Plus provides youth ages 18 to 24 with housing assistance, 24-hour crisis intervention, educational and employment support, life skills training and mentoring. Services are delivered through both scattered-site apartments and host family housing models across the county. The $800,000 total funding increase will be covered using existing local resources with no impact on discretionary general funding. These amendments ensure continued access to safe, stable housing and supportive services for youth transitioning to independent adulthood.

The program helps achieve the Countywide Vision by supporting vulnerable youth transitioning into adulthood to achieve independence through continued access to safe, stable housing and wraparound services.

County Fire awarded grant to hire 21 firefighter paramedics

San Bernardino County Fire was awarded a $9.36 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant award from FEMA to support the hiring of 21 new firefighter paramedics to strengthen fire and emergency medical service staffing at seven stations countywide. The award will be supplemented by an approximately $5.82 million cost share, funded through available County Fire reserves, for a total project cost of approximately $15.18 million. The grant will improve emergency response capacity in high-need areas such as interstate corridors, federal lands and various communities without requiring new fire apparatus purchases.

The grant awards further the Countywide Vision’s public safety goal by increasing the county’s fire safety and emergency medical capabilities through leveraged federal funding.

Sheriff’s Department expands traffic safety efforts with $1.1 million state grant

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has secured an approximately $1.1 million grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to strengthen enforcement and education efforts under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). The department will deploy targeted patrols, DUI checkpoints, distracted driving enforcement and public outreach in 11 contract cities and towns across the county. The funding will also support the purchase of three radar trailers to assist with speed enforcement and increase visibility in high-collision areas. These operations aim to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities and enhance public safety on county roadways.

Additional County Update News – October 23, 2025