Commission for Behavioral Health

The Commission and our community advocacy partners respectfully urge Governor Gavin Newsom to reconsider the proposed $6.7 million cut to the Commission’s Community Advocacy Program in the May Revision.

We recognize and appreciate Governor Newsom’s leadership in strengthening California’s behavioral health system through Proposition 1. We share his vision for a fully realized, improved behavioral health system and are committed to supporting successful implementation, particularly through strong community partnerships that uplift Californians with the greatest behavioral health needs.

The Community Advocacy Program is a unique and essential opportunity for underserved communities to meaningfully shape California’s behavioral health policies. To successfully implement the BHSA, California must strengthen – not weaken - its commitment to community partnership.

Read our coalition letter:https://bhsoac.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Coalition-Letter_Advocacy-Budget-Cuts-20260622.pdf

Update: The Commission’s sponsored bill, AB 2003 (Berman) - which will establish free online su***de prevention training for schools - has passed the Senate Education Committee and is now headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee!

A huge thank you to Assemblymember Marc Berman, our co‑sponsor the California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN), and all of our supporters for helping move this important bill forward. Let’s keep up the momentum!

Be a part of the conversation at the June Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee meeting!

🗓 Thursday, June 18
🕘 10:00 a.m. PDT

Join us in person at 1812 9th Street, Sacramento or via teleconference.

See the agenda and register for the meeting: https://bhsoac.ca.gov/connect/committees/committee-meetings/

Stay connected with what’s happening across California’s behavioral health landscape!

Starting June 12, get bi-weekly updates from the Commission and our BHSA partners delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up for the Commission Connector: https://bhsoac.ca.gov/signup/

The Commission and more than 50 behavioral health organizations across California are urging state leaders to reject the proposal to use over 30% of Proposition 1’s Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) funds to backfill General Fund obligations.

This proposal:

❌ Conflicts with voter intent.
❌ Deepens already-reduced prevention funding.
❌ Appears inconsistent with the BHSA’s non-supplantation language.
❌ Undermines BHSA’s workforce commitments for priority populations.
❌ Uses BHSA funds to pay for existing state obligations.
❌ Includes proposed offsets that are a stretch under the BHSA.

We urge the Legislature to reject the General Fund offset and set clear guardrails to ensure BHSA funds stay focused on expanding services, strengthening prevention, and supporting Californians with the highest behavioral health needs.

Read our coalition letter:https://bhsoac.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Coalition-Letter_Advocacy-Budget-Cuts-20260608-v2.pdf

NAMI California, along with youth and veteran coalition partners, will hold a press conference urging the final state budget to include funding for the Commission’s Community Advocacy Program.

Advocates will highlight how proposed funding cuts would undermine Prop. 1 implementation and weaken the ability of families, peers, youth, veterans, LGBTQIA+ communities, immigrants, and other historically underserved groups to participate meaningfully in shaping California’s behavioral health system.

Community members, providers, and allies are encouraged to attend, amplify the message, and urge state leaders to protect these critical investments.

📅 Wednesday, June 10, 9:30 a.m.

🏛️ Capitol Park, near 13th & L Street, Native American Monument (Area 22), Sacramento, CA

CBH Executive Director Brenda Grealish recently moderated the powerful “Spotlight on Children’s Mental Health: What’s the Latest?” conference hosted by CMHACY, showcasing where California stands on major initiatives shaping the future of care for children, youth, and families - including the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, CalAIM, Proposition 1, the Family First Prevention Services Act, and the Tiered Rate Structure.

📸: California Alliance of Child & Family Services

The Commission is pleased to share updates to our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. These updates will be added as an addendum to the Strategic Plan to ensure alignment with the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) and Priority Populations.

Following robust discussion and stakeholder engagement throughout the Spring, the Commission’s limited-time Strategic Plan Advisory Committee outlined four priority areas for the Commission to advance:

✅ Meet the Needs of People with the Highest Behavioral Health Needs

✅ Ensure that the Substance Use Disorder Continuum is Incorporated Throughout the Commission’s Work

✅ Expand Peer Behavioral Health Services

✅ Build the Evidence Base for the Effectiveness and Sustainability of New and Innovative Statewide Strategies

Learn more about the four priority areas and their desired results by viewing our updated Strategic Plan: https://bhsoac.ca.gov/strategic-plan/2024-2027/strategic-plan-addendum/