State launches website to track local progress on behavioral health initiatives

Mentalhealth.ca.gov includes a slate of accountability tools to track implementation

By Caroline Grinder, legislative affairs lobbyist   

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a new webpage to track how counties are implementing California’s “behavioral health transformation.” This includes information about county implementation of the Community Assistance Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act and conservatorship reform.

Cal Cities and over 70 cities across the state supported the CARE Act in 2022 as a way to connect unsheltered individuals experiencing acute behavioral health needs with community-oriented care. Cal Cities also supported SB 43 (Eggman) in 2023, which updated California's conservatorship law to include conditions that result in a substantial risk of serious harm to an individual's physical or mental health. Together, these initiatives expand access to behavioral health services, especially for California's unhoused residents.

The new webpage also tracks the state’s progress in building new behavioral health housing funded through Proposition 1 (2024). The Cal Cities-supported ballot measure directed billions in new funding to behavioral health housing for people experiencing homelessness. The tracker provides insight for both members and local officials into the state’s outpatient treatment capacity, inpatient bed openings, and new homeless housing.

The Governor’s Office also released a guide for local leaders and residents who want to learn more about Prop. 1 implementation progress and other programs in their county, as well as what questions they should ask.

With the state fast-tracking its implementation of Prop. 1, now is the time for city leaders to work with their county counterparts to understand what funding and service opportunities to support residents exist and how these investments will benefit their region.