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
Behavioral Health Services Act Population-Based Prevention Program Funding From the California Department of Public Health
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept and approve the allocation from the California Department of Public Health for Behavioral Health Services Act Population-Based Prevention Program funding, including the Certification and Request for Advance Payment, in the amount of $334,404, to support local suicide prevention planning and population-based prevention activities, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health to execute and submit any subsequent non-substantive amendments and documents necessary to administer and secure the funding, including work plans, plans, reports, invoices, and other required documents, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Janki Patel, Acting Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Population-Based Prevention Program allocation from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), in the amount of $334,404, does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2026-27 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
BHSA established a statewide framework to strengthen behavioral health services and prevention efforts in California. As part of the BHSA Population-Based Prevention Program, CDPH is providing funding to Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) to support coordination, planning, and population-based suicide and overdose prevention activities. CDPH identified annual allocations for the three-year period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, with funding intended to support LHJs in carrying out required prevention activities. In 2025, 15.4 people per 100,000 in San Bernardino County reported suicidal ideation, placing the county in the second-highest quartile of suicidal ideation burden among California counties.
For 2026-27, DPH will receive $334,404 in funding to support these activities, which include coordinating stakeholder convenings that bring together local partners involved in behavioral health and suicide prevention efforts. Required participants include representatives from the Department of Behavioral Health, Medi-Cal managed care plans, local tribes, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), the Department of Aging and Adult Services, education partners, First 5 of San Bernardino, County Veterans Affairs, and other organizations throughout the community.
DPH will use the stakeholder convenings and available local data to draft a suicide prevention plan consistent with CDPH requirements. The funding will support integration of suicide and overdose prevention into DPH’s Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Planning efforts. Allowable uses of the BHSA funding include paying for staff time to carry out required activities, contracting consultants or contractors to support stakeholder convenings and the development of a local suicide prevention plan, and providing support to facilitate stakeholder participation, including funding for training and travel necessary to accomplish required activities.
As part of the allocation process, CDPH requires DPH to submit a Certification and Request for Advance Payment to formally accept funding. CDPH requires the certification, along with a work plan and spend plan, to process the allocation and subsequent payments. Although CDPH provides the option to request an advance payment of up to 25% of the allocation, DPH does not require an advance payment. DPH has sufficient capacity to initiate program activities and seek reimbursement for eligible expenditures through the standard reimbursement process. DPH is recommending delegated authority to allow timely submission of any additional supporting documents required to secure the funding and begin activities without delay. Any substantive amendments to the documents or funding will be brought to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval.
On September 25, 2026, DPH was notified of the allocation for BHSA Population-Based Prevention Program funding, as well as the requirement to submit the Certification and Request for Advance Payment by October 14, 2026. An extension was requested and approved by CDPH to November 13, 2026 to allow for Board approval.
Approval of this item will allow DPH to accept the 2026-27 BHSA allocation and implement required suicide prevention planning, stakeholder coordination, and related population-based prevention activities throughout San Bernardino County.
This item is being presented currently, as it is the first date available following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval at this time will not impact DPH’s services or activities. DPH will return to the Board for acceptance of future awards, in the event an award is received.
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; and County Finance and Administration (Guy Martinez, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-5428) on October 16, 2026.