FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2020
Media Contact: Ma Eliza Caliolio, ecaliolio@cccbha.org, (916) 557-1166 x20
Governor Newsom Continues to Prioritize Behavioral Health in His Proposed Budget for 2020-2021
Sacramento – Governor Newsom once again focused on the needs within the behavioral health arena in his projected $222 billion budget. In his almost two-hour briefing, he focused on various topics of import, including investments in education, housing, transforming Medi-Cal, and healthcare. The Governor began by pointing out that he has worked for months on this budget, which he takes very seriously, and that the budget acts as a “review of priorities” for the Administration.
Newsom proudly pointed out the state's record surpluses and the ability to pay down debts via the General Fund reserves. He added, California “leads the nation” in several areas, including having leaders in higher education, science, and the highest number of Nobel Laureates. Newsom said that Californians have innovation “running through our brains and veins.” He warned, “The past does not equal the future… though we have had 11 years of economic growth, a slowing down of economic growth is occurring,” but there are still some areas the state is falling short.
High level behavioral health budget allocations include:
- Behavioral Health Task Force. The Health and Human Services Agency will create a task force comprised of state and community level stakeholders. The mission is to review existing policies and programs to improve care and coordinate system transformation efforts as it relates to the impacts of mental illness and substance use disorders in communities.
- Medi-Cal Healthier California For All (MHCFA). Proposes $695 million, to grow, to $1.4 billion in 2020-2021, and 2022-2023, to fund the MHCFA, which builds upon the Whole Person Care, Coordinated Care Initiative, and other model programs initiated as part of prior demonstration waivers. $45.1 million in 2020-2021 and $42 million in 2021-2022 million is also allotted for DHCS to establish a Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Program to incentivize system change and process improvement for counties.
- Housing and Homelessness. Invests $750 million to establish the California Access to Housing and Services Fund to create affordable housing units, rental subsidies, and bolster board and care homes.
- Schools. Includes $300 million for community school models to support mental health and the whole child, including funding for wrap around models. It also includes $350 million one-time Proposition 98 funds for a competitive grant process for LEAs to conduct training in high needs areas, including mental health interventions.
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Investment. The state will invest $10 million one-time funds for the establishment of an ACES cross-sector training program and public awareness campaign.
- Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Changes. The Administration will submit a proposal in the Spring regarding its suggestions for changes to the MHSA. The Governor has stated interest in making substance use disorder providers and treatment eligible for MHSA funding. There is also a desire to focus funds on individuals with mental illness who are also experiencing homelessness, incarcerated, and on early intervention methods targeted at youth.
- Corrections. The state will invest $289.7 million in transforming the Division of Juvenile Justice to the Department of Youth and Community Restoration to provide trauma informed and developmentally appropriate services to youth who are involved in the justice system. It also funds a six-year Community Collaborative Pilot Program in three counties to provide incentives to treat individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial and who are homeless and experiencing mental illness. $3.8 million in one-time funds allocated to retrofit intake cells within prisons to help prevent inmates from committing suicide. A proposed $5.9 million to expand telepsychiatry services for incarcerated individuals.
- Training. The budget includes $4.5 million to provide training in person centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based support services to individuals with co-occurring developmental disabilities and mental health conditions.
- Child Welfare. Proposes $598 million for children and families involved in the child welfare system, which is an increase of $38.9 million from the 2019 budget. There is $546 million allotted to continue the Continuum of Care Reform program and to provide greater coordination of child welfare and mental health services.
Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs of the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies (CBHA), said, “Once again, Governor Newsom has dialed in on priorities that impact our member agencies. His continued focus on intervention, workforce, parity and addressing behavioral health concerns for individuals with high needs and low resources resounds with the mission of the service organizations CBHA represents, and the populations that our members provide needed services to. We look forward to engaging with the Newsom Administration about how to actualize these goals via specific budget allocations during this year’s budget negotiations.”
A more detailed summary of Governor Newsom’s proposed budget and resources about the behavioral health provisions of the budget can be found here:
