San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approves landmark Behavioral Health Services Act 2026–2029 Integrated Plan

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The Behavioral Health Services Act will guide San Bernardino County’s behavioral health services planning for the next three years.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) 2026–2029 Integrated Plan during the June 9 board meeting. This is a comprehensive roadmap that will guide behavioral health investments, services and system improvements throughout the county over the next three years.

The plan includes approximately $2.35 billion in projected behavioral health spending across all funding sources from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, and allocates an estimated $915.7 million in BHSA funding and Mental Health Services Act carryover funds to support services for children, youth, adults, older adults and families across San Bernardino County.

Developed through extensive community planning, the Integrated Plan reflects input from residents, individuals with lived experience, families, service providers, community organizations, public agencies, educational institutions, healthcare partners and other stakeholders throughout the region.

The plan aligns with California’s Behavioral Health Services Act and prioritizes strategies that expand access to care, increase housing and supportive services, reduce unnecessary institutionalization, address homelessness, support justice diversion efforts, improve outcomes for youth and families, and expand the behavioral health workforce needed to meet growing community needs.

“This approval represents more than the adoption of a plan; it represents our commitment to building a behavioral health system that meets people where they are and provides the support they need to thrive,” said San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe. “This roadmap reflects the voices of our communities and our shared vision of expanding access to care, increasing housing supports and creating pathways to recovery for residents across San Bernardino County.”

The BHSA Integrated Plan establishes priorities and investments that support a full continuum of care, including behavioral health services and supports, outreach and engagement, coordinated specialty care for youth experiencing early signs of psychosis, innovative service models, workforce development initiatives and housing-focused interventions designed to improve long-term outcomes.

“The strength of this plan lies in the partnerships that shaped it,” said Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, a commissioner on the San Bernardino County Behavioral Health Commission. “Community members, families, providers, advocates and local organizations helped identify both our challenges and our opportunities. Their input will continue to guide implementation as we work together to reduce barriers to care, address homelessness and ensure every resident has access to the services and supports they need.”

County leaders emphasized that the Integrated Plan is not a one-time document, but rather a living framework that will continue to evolve through ongoing collaboration, performance monitoring and community engagement.

“This plan marks an important milestone, but it is not the finish line,” said Joshua Dugas, acting director of the San Bernardino County Behavioral Health Department. “Behavioral health transformation is an ongoing process. We remain committed to listening, learning and partnering with our communities as we implement these strategies, measure our progress and adapt to emerging needs. The voices of our residents will continue to shape the future of behavioral health services in San Bernardino County.”

County Behavioral Health will continue engaging stakeholders throughout implementation of the plan, providing opportunities for community feedback and collaboration to ensure services remain responsive, equitable and effective.

The Behavioral Health Services Act was established through California’s Proposition 1 reforms and serves as the state’s updated framework for planning and funding behavioral health services, with a greater emphasis on serving individuals with the most significant behavioral health needs, expanding housing interventions, increasing accountability and improving outcomes across the behavioral health continuum.

For more information about the Behavioral Health Services Act 2026–2029 Integrated Plan, visit www.SBCounty.gov/DBH.

Additional County Update News – June 18, 2026