DATE: April 21, 2026
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 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Receive the Fresno County Behavioral Health Board Annual Report for 2025.
REPORT
The annual report is submitted pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code (W&IC), section (§) 5604.2(a)(5). The report provides an overview of the Fresno County Behavioral Health Board (FCBHB) and its subcommittees as well as a summary 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 2025 was approved by the FCBHB on March 18, 2026. 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 FCBHB has been primarily focused on three areas in 2025:
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 and BHSA related legislation.
2. Learning more about services where mild to moderate identification or services occur.
3. Continuing to understand the successes and especially the challenges encountered in a county that is under-resourced in many areas, which often leads to a lack of scaling successful practices or services.
The Annual Report contains recommendations to your Board as well as reports from the Adult Services Committee, Children’s Committee, Forensics Committee, and the Substance Use Disorders Committee.
In its role as advocate and public representative for persons served 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 #13, May 20, 2025
BAI #11, April 9, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - FCBHB Annual Report
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander