To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Time Certain Matter
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
9:30 A.M. - Humboldt County Fiscal Year 2024-25 Behavioral Health Board Annual Report
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and file the attached report prepared by the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 and presented by Behavioral Health Board members.
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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: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board (“BHB”) is a requirement of Welfare and Institutions Code 5604 and was established per the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act of 1967. The county and the Department of Health & Human Services actively support the BHB, which meets monthly subject to the provisions of the Brown Act and consists of 15 members. Counties are encouraged to appoint individuals who have experience and knowledge of the mental health system. Per W&I 5604, which was updated effective Jan. 1, 2025 by the passage of Proposition 1 in March of 2024, the BHB 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 percent of the total membership shall be consumers; and at least 20 percent shall be families of consumers.
Humboldt County’s BHB has a dedicated, engaged and diverse membership that understands that mental illness and substance use disorder (“SUD”) are serious conditions, and cares very much about the mental health and SUD services, programs, and facilities available in our county. Advocating for increased access to services, housing, and employment opportunities for those with mental health issues are foremost in their concerns.
Some of the duties for the BHB are to advise the Board of Supervisors and the Local Mental Health Director (role served by Behavioral Health Director in Humboldt) concerning any aspect of the local mental health program. Another requirement is to submit an annual report to the governing body on the needs and performance of the county’s mental health system. Members of the BHB come before your Board to present the BHB’s annual report to your Board for FY 2024-25.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Mental Health Fund
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact as the BHB members volunteer their services.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no direct impact to staffing. Department of Health & Human Services Administrative and Behavioral Health staff support the BHB on an ongoing basis by supporting the monthly meetings, providing presentations and providing information as requested.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Behavioral Health Board Annual Report Fiscal Year 24-25
2. Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board by Month FY 22-24
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: October 25, 2022
File No.: 22-1347