To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT: Appointments to the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Appoint Eddie Morgan to the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board for a three-year term; and
2. Appoint Saul Lopez to the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board for a three-year term; and
3. Appoint Lenard Alan Miller to the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board for a three-year term.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1002- Remove barriers to quality healthcare
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board is a requirement of California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5604 and was established per the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act of 1967. The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health actively supports the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board in accordance with applicable local, state and federal requirements.
Eddie Morgan is a veteran with over 25 years of experience in public health. Saul Lopez is a veteran and has spent nine years providing services to the veteran community. Lenard Alan Miller has lived experience as a family member of a consumer and would like to increase community involvement.
The Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board consists of 15 members and meets on a monthly basis in accordance with the provisions of the Brown Act. Counties are encouraged to appoint individuals who have experience and knowledge of the mental health system. The Behavioral Health Board should reflect the diversity of the client population in the county. Fifty percent of the membership shall be consumers or the parent, spouse, sibling or adult children of consumers who are receiving or have received mental health services. At least 20% of the total membership shall be consumers, and at least 20 percent shall be families of consumers.
The Behavioral Health Board membership shall also include at least one member who is 25 years of age or younger; at least one member who is a veteran or veteran advocate; and one member who is an employee of a local education agency. Further, counties are encouraged to appoint individuals who have experience with, and knowledge of, the behavioral health system, including members of the community who engage with individuals living with mental illness or substance use disorder in the course of daily operations, such as representatives of county offices of education, large and small businesses, hospitals, hospital districts, physicians practicing in emergency departments, city police chiefs, county sheriffs and community and nonprofit service providers. The proposed appointment will meet membership criteria described in Welfare and Institutions Code section 5604.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There are no direct costs associated with the recommended appointment since Behavioral Health Board members volunteer their services.
STAFFING IMPACT:
The recommended actions will not impact current staffing levels.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Eddie Morgan Application to Serve on Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board.
2. Saul Lopez Application to Serve on Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board.
3. Lenard Alan Miller Application to Serve on Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 3/13/18, 12/4/18, 5/14/19, 7/23/19, 8/18/20, 8/10/21, 10/26/21, 11/16/21, 3/1/22; 7/19/22, 2/28/23, 5/23/23, 8/8/23, 9/12/23, 12/19/23, 6/4/24, 10/29/2024, 1/7/25, 3/11/25, 5/13/25, 10/7/2025, 10/28/2025, 12/16/2025, 4/14/26
File No.: 18-105, 18-1544, 19-623, 19-1010, 20-980, 21-1078, 21-1503, 21-1659, 22-170; 22-914; 23-150, 23-488, 23-1060, 23-1165, 23-1592, 24-836, 24-1440, 25-9, 25-312, 25-535, 25-1099, 25-1221, 25-1447, 26-205