DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan L. Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Department of State Hospitals Permanent Diversion Funding Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Agreement 24-79038-000 with the California Department of State Hospitals to establish Diversion Program funding for five years from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030, with a compensation maximum of $27,531,750; and
2. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, or designee, to be the signatory on behalf of the Board of Supervisors on associated Diversion Program funding documents, expenditure forms and reports.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval will allow Fresno County to access California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) Diversion funding and continue the Diversion program, which provides behavioral health services to justice-involved individuals who have significant mental health challenges and who would otherwise remain incarcerated. Approval of the second recommended action will allow the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) Director, as lead entity of DSH Diversion funding in Fresno County, to sign funding documents, expenditure forms, and reports. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If the Board does not approve the recommended actions, Fresno County would lose access to DSH Diversion funding and not be able to provide needed community-based behavioral health services to justice-involved individuals who have significant mental health challenges and who would otherwise remain incarcerated. Additionally, the DBH will have to return to your Board for signature on all necessary funding reports and forms.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The non-competitive Diversion funding ...
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