Board actions, March 11 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

*The Board of Supervisors took several actions during its regular board meeting on March 11.*

Supervisors fund the West End YMCA kitchen enhancements

The Board of Supervisors approved $20,000 in funding from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the West End YMCA for kitchen upgrades, such as plumbing work to move a large water heater six inches off the ground, the purchase and installation of a grease trap, and other kitchen enhancements so the YMCA can continue serving the community’s needs.

Expanded substance use disorder and recovery services

San Bernardino County Behavioral Health is increasing funding by more than $70 million to expand substance use disorder and recovery services provided by community-based organizations. This additional investment will enhance inpatient treatment and clinical services, helping approximately 5,888 more adults and adolescents receive addiction care in therapeutic settings. The funding will also significantly increase the number of available treatment beds from 169 to 303, ensuring more residents can access critical support for recovery.

The following community-based organizations contract with Behavioral Health to provide substance use disorder and recovery services:

G and C Swan, Inc.
Inland Valley Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services, Inc.
Phoenix House Orange County, Inc.
Social Science Services, Inc. dba Cedar House Life Change Center
Veteran’s Alcohol Rehabilitation Program, Inc.

The funding increase is supported through Drug Medi-Cal, opioid settlement funds, and 2011 realignment funds.

Various department grant awards

The board approved various department grant awards and a reallocation of funding, including:

Approximately $1.36 million in Emergency Solutions Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administered by the county’s Community Development and Housing Department and reallocated to the Office of Homeless Services. This funding will enhance efforts to address homelessness through comprehensive services such as mapping homeless encampments, providing outreach services and case management, funding emergency housing services, and assisting individuals in need with finding permanent housing.
Approximately $1.7 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure Grant Program to San Bernardino County Public Health to strengthen the public health workforce and build a stronger infrastructure in preparation for future public health emergencies through Nov. 20.
Approximately $1.7 million in grant funding to Public Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration for the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program part A through Feb. 28, 2028. These grant funds will help efforts to reduce new HIV infections in San Bernardino County and provide services for individuals living with HIV in the Inland Empire, including outpatient medical care, case management, and access to essential services such as food and transportation.
$11 million in Encampment Resolution Funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development to the Office of Homeless Services through April 15, 2029. This funding will address immediate physical and mental health, wellness, and safety needs for individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments. The grant will also support efforts to connect individuals in need with housing solutions, encourage coordinated and data-driven responses to homelessness, and restore public spaces, ultimately improving community well-being.
$11.8 million in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 5 funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development to the Office of Homeless Services on behalf of the San Bernardino City and County Continuum of Care to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address immediate homelessness challenges through June 30, 2029.

By supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and ensuring that individuals living with HIV have access to high-quality healthcare services and equitable support services, the county is working towards achieving the Countywide Vision.

Upgrades to three mobile health clinics
Public Health is increasing an approximately $1.3 million contract with M3 Group Inc., dba Mission Mobile Medical Group, by $60,000 to upgrade three mobile health clinics, which provide on-site medical and dental services to county residents in areas that lack medical and dental facilities and who have limited access to care.

Two of these mobile clinics will receive new dental equipment—including ambidextrous dental carts, upgraded sterilization instruments, and HEPA air filters—enabling them to offer comprehensive dental care comparable to traditional dental offices. Additionally, all three mobile units will receive Starlink satellite systems to provide reliable internet connectivity, even in remote areas with limited cellular service.

The mobile health clinic project aligns with the Countywide Vision by ensuring that all residents have equitable access to healthcare services.

Hesperia Branch Library donation

The Board of Supervisors accepted a donation of over $46,000 from the Hesperia Friends of the Library Group. This donation will support reading programs, purchase new books and supplies for adult and youth library programs, and help fund incentives to promote reading, as well as performers for the Summer Reading Program at the Hesperia Branch Library.

By accepting the donation for literacy programs in Hesperia, the county continues to support the Vision2Read initiative.

New fellowship and internship partnerships
County departments are working to expand workforce development partnerships, including:

A San Bernardino County Aging and Adult Services partnership with Grand Canyon University for field experience and student training in counseling and social work, which will help students gain understanding of the department and hands-on experience serving a diverse clientele through March 2026.
A Public Health partnership with the California Department of Public Health to establish the California Epidemiologic Investigation Service Fellowship Program for University of California, Davis epidemiologist fellows who have recently graduated from a master’s program, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029. Fellows will assist epidemiologists within the department to investigate local outbreaks of diseases; identify epidemiologic trends, locations and sources; assess risks of possible epidemics or communicable disease hazards; and recommend control procedures. In return, fellows gain valuable experience in applied epidemiology in a public health environment. Since the fellowship program’s inception in 1989, 70 percent of graduates have gone on to work in a public health agency, with 81 percent of those working in a California public health agency.

These partnerships with academic institutions and public agencies help achieve the Countywide Vision by fostering a well-trained social work and epidemiological workforce.

Additional County Update News – March 13, 2025