Board Actions, May 19 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

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“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 May 19.*

The Board of Supervisors approved funding allocations through the District Specific Priorities Program to support youth opportunities, strengthen community partnerships, enhance public safety and promote economic vitality. Funding allocations include:

$40,000 from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the San Bernardino County Human Resources Department to fund paid internships through the SPARK Youth Employment Program for youth from the Second District, helping participants develop workplace skills, explore career pathways and gain hands-on learning experiences.
$40,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce to fund a one-year gold-level sponsorship and support facility improvements at the new Route 66 Welcome Center in Rancho Cucamonga, including interior upgrades and outdoor signage enhancements to support local businesses, tourism and community outreach.
$30,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the San Bernardino County Fire Foundation to support firefighter wellness and mental health programs, emergency response and disaster relief efforts, youth outreach, fire prevention education, and the purchase of equipment, training and specialized tools.
$25,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the Upland Chamber of Commerce to support business education workshops, industrial roundtables, networking events and other community programs that encourage economic development and civic engagement.
$15,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the Fontana Community Little League to assist with the purchase and installation of baseball equipment, field maintenance tools, scoreboard controllers, bleacher covers and other facility improvements supporting youth recreation programs.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the California-Nevada District Exchange Clubs Charitable Foundation, Inc. to support the 113th Annual Fontana Days Festival, youth projects and scholarship programs, including event coordination, live entertainment and community activities.

Behavioral Health expansion of workforce training, treatment capacity and recovery support services

The San Bernardino County Behavioral Health Department is entering into several agreements to expand workforce development, behavioral health treatment and recovery support services across San Bernardino County, including:

An approximately $2.7 million agreement with the Loma Linda – Inland Empire Consortium for Healthcare Education to provide clinical training opportunities for medical residents and fellows through 2031. The program supports up to four full-time trainees annually, helping address the county’s shortage of psychiatric providers while strengthening long-term workforce development through hands-on training across the county’s behavioral health system of care.
An amended contract with Valley Star Behavioral Health increasing the total contract amount by approximately $17 million to $40.9 million and extending the contract by two years until June 2028 to expand Adult Full-Service Partnership programs, general mental health services and CalWORKs behavioral health services. Services include therapy, housing support, case management and crisis intervention for individuals with significant behavioral health needs.
The addition of California Psychiatric Transitions to the department’s Mental Health Rehabilitation Center provider network through an existing $13.4 million funding pool to expand access to long-term residential treatment and step-down care for adults with severe mental illness and complex behavioral needs.
An approximately $438,000 contract with Desert Oasis Sober Living Inc. through September 2029 to provide substance use disorder recovery and life skills services for CalWORKs participants. The program is expected to serve approximately 476 participants annually through services focused on parenting, employment readiness, stress management and other skills that support long-term self-sufficiency and recovery.

By strengthening behavioral health workforce development, expanding treatment capacity and increasing recovery support services for residents in need, the county is advancing the health and wellness goals of the Countywide Vision.

Family-centered support for children in foster care

The board approved contracts with A Coming of Age to Adulthood Inc., Berhe Group Home, Inc., and Greater Hope Foundation for Children, Inc., in a total amount not to exceed approximately $8.4 million through June 30, 2029, to provide Child and Family Team facilitator services.

These services support San Bernardino County Children and Family Services’ efforts to coordinate family-centered meetings that bring together youth, caregivers and service providers to develop individualized care plans. The contracts will support more than 21,000 meetings over three years, helping ensure children involved in the child welfare system receive coordinated, supportive and stable care in home-based settings.

By supporting coordinated, family-centered care planning for youth involved in the child welfare system, the county is helping improve stability and supportive services for children and families in alignment with the Countywide Vision.

Enhanced trauma-informed support for youth

San Bernardino County Children and Family Services received approval of an amendment to its non-financial memorandum of understanding with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital’s Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity to enhance trauma-informed services for youth.

The updated agreement expands the scope of services to include forensic interviews and exams and strengthens coordinated medical and mental health care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect or other traumatic events. The partnership helps ensure vulnerable youth receive comprehensive, trauma-informed support through a coordinated multidisciplinary approach.

These efforts support the Countywide Vision by improving access to critical health and social services for children and families in need.

Energy Ad Hoc Committee established

The board established an Energy Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Chairman Dawn Rowe and Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman, to assess the county’s energy needs and develop strategic policy recommendations.

The committee will evaluate energy reliability challenges, infrastructure needs and opportunities for economic growth, while supporting the development of a comprehensive strategy to enhance the region’s energy resiliency and support future development across the county.

By evaluating long-term energy reliability, resiliency and infrastructure needs, the county is supporting strategic planning efforts that advance economic growth and sustainability goals within the Countywide Vision.

Transitional youth housing support

The San Bernardino County Office of Homeless Services will set aside approximately $623,000 in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 3 and Round 4 County Youth Set-Aside funds to support housing and stabilization services for youth and young families ages 18 to 24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The funding will help provide rental assistance, temporary housing and supportive services to participants through a future workforce housing program at Echo Apartments in San Bernardino. The program will help provide young adults with stable housing along with employment support, case management and other services aimed at supporting their long-term self-sufficiency.

Homeless Strategic Action Plan update

The board approved the updated San Bernardino County Homeless Strategic Action Plan, establishing a five-year, data-driven framework to prevent and reduce homelessness through coordinated countywide strategies and partnerships.

The updated plan incorporates input from more than 500 stakeholders, including county departments, cities, service providers and individuals with lived experience. The strategy focuses on homelessness prevention, expanding permanent housing solutions, strengthening partnerships, improving coordination and enhancing data-driven decision-making. The plan also outlines performance measures and pilot projects to support vulnerable populations while continuing efforts to align county resources and community services.

By strengthening coordinated countywide strategies to prevent and reduce homelessness, the county is advancing long-term housing stability and supportive services goals identified in the Countywide Vision.

Free bus pass program for seniors and residents with disabilities

San Bernardino County Aging and Adult Services – Public Guardian is receiving an approximately $420,000 Measure I grant award from Omnitrans to continue the Valley Transportation Expansion Project through June 2028.

The funding will support approximately 3,500 bus passes annually for seniors age 62 and older and individuals with disabilities throughout the county. The program helps residents maintain independence and access transportation for medical appointments, employment, volunteer opportunities and social activities.

These investments help to advance the Countywide Vision’s quality of life goals by improving mobility and access to essential services for vulnerable residents.

Security enhancements at Head Start sites

The board authorized the San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department to make approximately $3 million in federally funded security upgrades at Head Start and Early Head Start sites throughout the county.

The improvements include card access control systems, video monitoring systems, intercom systems and enhanced security lighting to strengthen safety at preschool facilities. The upgrades support ongoing quality improvement efforts and compliance with federal Head Start performance standards while helping create safer learning environments for children, families and staff.

By investing in preschool facility safety and security improvements, the county is supporting safe learning environments and advancing the school readiness goals consistent with the Cradle-to-Career Roadmap.

Grant supports reentry and health services for justice-involved individuals

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department received a $300,000 grant from the California Department of Health Care Services to support planning and capacity-building efforts for justice-involved individuals.

The funding will help expand pre-release and post-release Medi-Cal services under the state’s CalAIM initiative, improving access to health care and support services for individuals transitioning from custody to the community.

These efforts support the Countywide Vision by improving coordination of care, enhancing public safety and strengthening reentry support services for county residents.

Expanded reentry employment and vocational training services

The board approved funding agreements to expand workforce development and reentry services for federally incarcerated individuals preparing to transition back into the community, including:

An approximately $678,000 grant from the California Workforce Development Board to the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department through the Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development Connect program to continue employment services for federally incarcerated individuals preparing to reenter the community. The initiative is supported through a federal partnership involving the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Labor and is administered locally by the Workforce Development Department.
An approximately $362,000 agreement between the County Workforce Development Department and Victor Valley College to continue vocational training and instructional services for eligible inmates at the Victorville Federal Correctional Complex. The program provides career training, workforce preparation and supportive services designed to help participants successfully transition back into the workforce and community after release.

These efforts support the Countywide Vision by expanding workforce opportunities, strengthening reentry support services and helping reduce recidivism through pathways to long-term economic stability.

Rialto roadway maintenance partnership

The San Bernardino County Department of Public Works is entering into a five-year cooperative agreement with the city of Rialto for shared street repair, maintenance and emergency work within incorporated and unincorporated areas surrounding the city.

The agreement allows the county and the city to share labor, equipment and contractor resources for roadway maintenance, storm response and emergency repairs, including paving, drainage work, striping, and debris removal. Costs under the agreement are limited to a not-to-exceed amount of $60,000 per project and an aggregate total of $100,000 per fiscal year, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $500,000 over the five-year term, with all work performed by either agency being fully reimbursable by the requesting party. The partnership is intended to improve efficiency, reduce costs and support timely infrastructure maintenance while protecting public safety and roadway conditions throughout the region.

By strengthening interagency collaboration and maintaining roadway infrastructure that supports safe travel and mobility, the county is working to achieve the transportation and public safety goals of the Countywide Vision.

State of health care presentation

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Andrew Goldfrach presented the board with an overview of the healthcare landscape in San Bernardino County, including trends affecting hospitals, healthcare access and emergency services. The presentation highlighted the county’s reliance on Medi-Cal funding, continued growth in emergency department utilization and the potential impacts of recent federal healthcare funding changes.

Approximately 40 percent of inpatient care in San Bernardino County is associated with Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal managed care programs, while local emergency departments continue to experience high levels of utilization compared to other large California counties. The Medicaid and Medi-Cal funding reductions, along with changes to eligibility requirements, could result in coverage losses for hundreds of thousands of Inland Empire residents, increase uncompensated care and raise demand for emergency and indigent care services, which could potentially add additional long-term financial and operational pressures on hospitals and healthcare providers throughout the region.

County service area road maintenance assessment ballot measure

The board conducted a public hearing and approved the next steps in the Proposition 218 process for a proposed adjustment to the property-related service charge for County Service Area 70, Zone R-15 in Landers, which funds grading and maintenance for approximately 164 miles of dirt roads, including the authorization of a mailed-ballot election for affected property owners to consider increasing the annual parcel charge from $20 to $75 beginning in fiscal year 2026-27, with an annual inflationary adjustment of up to 3 percent.

The assessment rate has remained unchanged since the zone was established in 1984 and no longer generates sufficient revenue to maintain current road service levels. If approved by property owners, the proposed adjustment is expected to generate approximately $260,000 annually to support continued road grading, maintenance and operational sustainability for the service area.

By supporting long-term roadway maintenance and infrastructure sustainability in unincorporated communities, the county is helping preserve safe and reliable transportation access for residents in alignment with the Countywide Vision’s infrastructure goals.

Additional County Update News – May 21, 2026