REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
JANKI PATEL, Acting Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Memorandum of Understanding with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. for Donation of Lockboxes
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Memorandum of Understanding with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., for the Department of Public Health to provide a one-time donation of up to 100 firearm and medication lockboxes, with a total estimated value of up to $5,000, for Kaiser Permanente to distribute at no cost to individuals and families, effective upon execution by all parties and terminating upon completion of the donation.
(Presenter: Janki Patel, Acting Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (Kaiser) is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department of Public Health (DPH) seeks approval to enter into an MOU with Kaiser to support safe-storage practices for firearms and medications. Under the MOU, DPH will provide up to 100 firearms and medication lockboxes (lockboxes) for free distribution to individuals and families receiving services through Kaiser’s pediatric and behavioral health clinics located throughout San Bernardino County (county).
DPH, through its Health Promotion & Education Services program, promotes individual, family, organizational, and community health practices. The lockboxes were originally provided at no cost to DPH by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP). For the past four years, OSP has supported safe-storage practices by providing firearm and medication lockboxes to partners statewide to help prevent suicide and unintentional deaths. Under this MOU, DPH will provide these lockboxes to Kaiser for free distribution to interested individuals and families.
On March 5, 2025, pursuant to County Policy 06-01SP, the Director of DPH approved the submission of an order form to CDPH OSP requesting free firearm and medication lockboxes for community distribution. Under this policy, the Director is authorized to accept donated items valued at less than $10,000.
On April 11, 2025, DPH received notification from the CDPH Office of Suicide Prevention of being awarded 100 lockboxes, with an estimated value of $5,000, which will be distributed throughout the community to promote safe storage practices and support suicide prevention efforts.
Because the lockboxes will be transferred to Kaiser for distribution to members of the public, DPH is seeking Board approval of the MOU authorizing the transfer and distribution of the lockboxes. Although the MOU is not required as a condition of the donation, DPH leadership recommends an MOU with Kaiser to establish guidelines, ensure accountability for the donated lockboxes, and to document their distribution and use in a manner consistent with the objectives of the program.
Approval of the MOU allows DPH to partner with Kaiser in expanding access to safe-storage resources for families who may not otherwise have the means to safely secure firearms or medications. This partnership strengthens community safety and supports DPH’s ongoing efforts to reduce suicide and unintentional injuries throughout the county.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 14, 2026; Risk Management (Stephanie Pacheco, Staff Analyst II, 386-9039) on September 22, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2198) on October 2, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Guy Martinez, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-5428) on October 2, 2026.