To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Michelle Bushnell
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Award of Proposition 1 Grant Funding for New Sempervirens Psychiatric Health Facility
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and file the report.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board's Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 2004 - Celebrate successes and foster community pride
DISCUSSION:
Humboldt County has long faced challenges in meeting the behavioral health needs of its population, particularly in providing adequate infrastructure to support residents with serious and persistent mental health conditions. The existing Sempervirens facility has been serving the community for decades but is no longer sufficient to meet current clinical, regulatory and accessibility standards.
On May 12, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that Humboldt County has been awarded more than $43.5 million in state funding to support the construction of a new Sempervirens (SV) psychiatric health facility. This award follows a competitive grant application process submitted by the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) in partnership with the Department of Public Works and is part of funding made available through Proposition 1, the Behavioral Health Services Act.
Proposition 1 was passed by California voters in March 2024 and replaces the Mental Health Services Act of 2004. The new law reforms behavioral health care funding by prioritizing services for individuals with the most severe mental health needs. It also broadens the scope of services to include treatment for substance use disorders, expanded housing support and enhancement of the behavioral health workforce.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact in making this informational p...
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