DATE: May 20, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan L. Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
Brooke Frost, Chair, Fresno County Behavioral Health Board
SUBJECT: Fresno County Behavioral Health Board Annual Report for 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Receive the Fresno County Behavioral Health Board Annual Report for 2024
REPORT
The annual report is submitted pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code (W&IC), section (§) 5604.2(a)(5). The report provides an introduction to the Fresno County Behavioral Health Board (FCBHB), its subcommittees and summaries of activities and topics relating to mental health and substance use disorder recovery and wellness. The report is approved by the FCBHB and provided to your Board for review. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to make recommendations to the FCBHB to revise the report and resubmit for your Board’s approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
As mandated by W&IC, §5604.2 (a)(5), the FCBHB is required to submit an annual report to the governing body, your Board, regarding the needs and performance of the County’s behavioral health system.
The Annual Report for 2024 was approved by the FCBHB on April 16, 2025. The report provides an overview of the FCBHB and its subcommittees, as well as a summary of activities and topics that the FCBHB has been involved with in the past few years relating to mental health and substance use disorder recovery and wellness. The summary of activities include:
The FCBHB has been primarily focused on three areas in 2024:
1. Keeping up to date on implementation of the passed Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA - Proposition 1) and CalAIM, trying to understand potential impact of both on contractors, the Department, and persons served along with the follow-up legislation or rule-making;
2. Learning about the complexities of CARE Court implementation; and
3. Updating the Bylaws to include required changes and Behavioral Health Board recruitment efforts for vacant and especially new, required positions through BHSA, that of an education representative and a youth representative under the age of 25. While the FCBHB has had some success with board vacancies, so far, the FCBHB has been unsuccessful in adding an education representative or a youth representative. FCBHB is not at all unique in the state on the latter. Due to Fresno County Office of Education being a contractor for and with the County providing the excellent All 4 Youth program for students, anyone from that office is precluded from becoming a BHB member per the Bylaws.
Progress on last year’s recommendations were shared at the FCBHB meeting in February 2025 and are pleased that
1. The Board of Supervisors consistently increased staff wages this past year and are competitive in the Central Valley, as well as having a net gain of newly recruited clinicians joining the Department of Behavioral Health to those leaving by almost 2 to 1.
2. Supportive housing that utilizes public funds requires the more restrictive federal definition for eligibility. The FCBHB appreciates the advocacy by DBH, Department of Social Services, and the County Administrative Office for a new “service matching” pathway for all those referrals that must occur through the Coordinated Entry System. Every little bit helps.
3. Communication about access and services integrated across the Behavioral Health entire continuum continues to be a work in progress.
4. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) eliminated a clinical category that was holding up having residential co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder programs locally. Training on co-occurring disorders is now needed across all clinical treatment categories, which will be reflected in this year’s recommendations to your Board.
In its role as advocate and public representative for consumers and their families, the FCBHB encourages public participation towards the goal of wellness and recovery from mental illness and substance use disorders. Your Board’s continuing involvement and support are appreciated as factors that contribute to the success of those efforts.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #11, April 9, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - FCBHB Annual Report
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander