BHSA Community Meetings

Downloadable PowerPoint

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has actively engaged the community in the program planning process to support the development of the first Behavioral Health Integrated Plan which will go into effect on July 1, 2026. As part of this process, the HCA has gathered community feedback and hosted three regional in-person community meetings and two virtual community meetings. These regional meetings provided an overview of findings from the community planning process and updates related to programs and services that will be included in the Behavioral Health Integrated Plan.

Downloadable PowerPoint: English, Spanish and Vietnamese

Downloadable Flyers: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Farsi, Arabic, Khmer, and Russian.

The Regional Meetings were conducted in English; however, interpreters were available upon request through the registration process for both in person and virtual meetings. 

Questions and Chat responses from our forums

Question 1: What is the eligibility for nonprofits with community health workers as health system navigators? How much funding is available for CHWs working in community-based nonprofits? Or would it be fee-for-service rather than funding?

Response:
Under the specialty behavioral health plan, entities eligible to deliver enhanced community health worker services must qualify to deliver and bill specialty Medi-Cal for those services. This is brand new for us, and we have approximately $3M set aside to stand up the benefit. Because it is new, we are working through the requirements and determining how we will deliver the services with our county partners. We want to lean in on the expertise of CHWs to support navigation for SUD and/or access to physical health care.

Question 2: There is support for uninsured individuals with severe conditions or SUD issues through the BHS department, but no support for uninsured individuals with mild to moderate presentations. OR, there is support for uninsured individuals with severe presentations only if they qualify for Medi-Cal?

Response:
That is correct. The state has affirmed that we are to align our programming to serve those with serious behavioral health conditions. We can serve uninsured individuals who qualify for specialty behavioral health, but mild/moderate conditions are not included.

Question 3: When do you anticipate the first RFPs for housing services will go out? What’s the estimated timeline for getting housing dollars out?

Response:
I do not know if we have a timeline for the RFPs. We will put a link in the chat where entities can register to be notified when RFPs are released.

Question 4: Are CHWs that currently provide housing tenancy services through CalOptima eligible for this opportunity?

Response:
We are still working through the requirements and standards for the enhanced benefit. More to come!

Question 5: What does “enhanced” community health workers mean? Is it what CalOptima qualifies as Enhanced Care Management?

Response:
An enhanced CHW is a non-licensed workforce member who shares lived experience, language, culture, or community ties with the people they serve; provides more intensive, structured, and coordinated support than a standard CHW; and works with clinical/behavioral health teams.

Question 6: Can IECMH consultants who are CHW II bill for their services under this plan?

Response:
They have to be part of the specialty network to bill. We are still reviewing and determining how this will be implemented, working with MCP and partners to determine the best path for standing up this benefit.

Question 7: Will the county prioritize funding organizations that serve the entire county versus those who serve their own organization’s clients in a small geographic area?

Response:
Under the Behavioral Health Services Act, the County considers a range of factors when allocating funds, including community need, equity, service gaps, and demonstrated outcomes. Both countywide providers and community-based organizations serving specific populations or geographic areas are essential to a comprehensive behavioral health system, and funding decisions are made to ensure resources reach communities with the greatest need.

Question 8: How many of the approximately 400 certified peers in Orange County are employed, expected to be employed by the county, or employed by county contractors to increase Medi-Cal billing?

Response:
At this time, we don’t have a definitive, publicly accessible count of how many of the approximately 400 certified peers in Orange County are currently employed by the county, by county contractors, or expected to be employed in ways that would increase Medi-Cal billing. The certification registry maintained by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) tracks certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists statewide and can provide county-level counts, but employment details—such as workforce placement or billing status—are not included in that public registry.

Question 9: What is the role of 211 in this process? What is the connection between 211 and Outreach and Engagement (O&E) under BHSA?

Response:
211 is a strong provider of resources across Orange County. Outreach and Engagement in BHSA is defined as connecting individuals with needed treatment, including ensuring we are closing the loop and doing what it takes to ensure people access the needed treatment. That means that, in addition to identifying a resource, outreach and engagement includes field-based pathways to engagement.

Question 10: Will Early Childhood go through an RFP or be awarded to First 5 OC?

Response:
All County-contracted services are awarded through a competitive bid process.

Question 11: Was consideration given to using the carryover (unspent funds) in the other areas? If yes, what was the impact?

Response:
Yes, we did consider using carryover funds in each of the required categories. Based on priorities and needs, the BHSS category was prioritized to:

1. 1. ensure we did not lose state-required programs and services, and
2. 2. support programs that stakeholders and system partners identified as priorities.

Question 12: Are the MHSA carryover funds (in the three categories) for one year or three years?

Response:
They are planned for three years, ensuring the $112M is available for all three years.

Accordion section

• Aug. 15, 2024 - Overview of Finances for FY 2024-2025, PowerPoint

• Sept. 19, 2024 - Prevention Early Intervention (PEI), PowerPoint

• Oct. 17, 2024 - Available Community Services and Supports (CSS) Component Funding, PowerPoint

• Dec. 12, 2024 - Review and Discussion Proposed Updates for the MHSA Annual Update for FY 2025-2026, PowerPoint

• Jan. 30, 2025 - Behavioral Health Integrated Plan Community Planning Launch, PowerPoint

• March 19, 24, and 26, 2025 - MHSA Plan FY 2025-26 Plan Review Meeting, PowerPoint

• April 9, 2025 - BHAB Public Hearing, MHSA Annual Update FY 2025-26, PowerPoint

• April 24, 2025 - Behavioral Health Community Program Planning Data Overview, PowerPoint

• July 14, 2025 - Behavioral Health system of care, funding and the latest updates on Community Program Planning and workgroup initiatives, PowerPoint

• October 16, 2025 - CPP Updates, summary of feedback, sessions held, and emerging themes through September; Child Welfare, Ages 0-5, Social Services Agency Updates – Overview of updates and findings and how this ties together to our system, PowerPoint

• December 11, 2025 - Overview of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Population-Based Prevention Program Guide – Phase 2, which outlines the state’s plan to carry out the statewide BHSA Prevention Framework. To watch the webinar, click here.  Powerpoints: English, Spanish and Vietnamese

• Sept. 21, 2023 - High Clinical Risk and Early Intervention for Pychosis, PowerPoint

• Oct. 19, 2023 - CARE Court Overview and Integration of PADS, PowerPoint

• Nov. 16, 2023 - Crisis Services Campaign Planning, PowerPoint

• Dec. 14, 2023 - Homeless and Housing Services: Prevention, Outreach, Engagement and Support, PowerPoint

• Jan. 18, 2024 - Suicide Prevention, PowerPoint

• Feb. 15, 2024 - MHSA Program and Policy Review, PowerPoint

• Mar. 21, 2024 - MHSA Plan Update Review, PowerPoint

• April 18, 2024 - MHSA Policy Forum, PowerPoint

• May 16, 2024 - Wellness, Resilience, And Recovery: Integrating Recovery Principles Into Full Service Partnerships, PowerPoint

• June 20, 2024 - CPP Review, Analysis, and Future Planning Discussion, PowerPoint

Community Forums are for community members to join in identifying needed services for individuals, their families and loved ones affected by mental health and substance use challenges.

Downloadable PowerPoints: English, Spanish, Vietnamese

Downloadable Community Forum Flyer: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Chinese, Russian, Khmer

Previous meetings:

North County - Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Fullerton Community Center from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Central County - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at Delhi Center from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

South County - Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at Laguna Hills Community Center from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.