Integrated Plan- Behavioral Health Services Act

The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) revises the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) passed by voters in 2004, to address today’s behavioral health system and needs. The transition from MHSA to BHSA will not introduce additional funding, but brings new requirements, modifies how counties' allocations may be used, and redistributes funds across new BHSA components and revised service categories.

One new requirement of BHSA is the Integrated Plan.The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Integrated Plans provide an opportunity for communities to engage in the county community planning process to shape the behavioral health services provided. 

 

FAQs

The County Integrated Plan is a three-year plan required by the Behavioral Health Services Act that outlines how counties will utilize various behavioral health funding sources (i.e., BHSA, 1991 and 2011 Realignment, federal grant programs, federal financial participation from Medi-Cal, opioid settlement funds, local funding, and other funding) to meet statewide and local outcome measures, reduce disparities, and address unmet needs along the Behavioral Health Care Continuum. 

The County of SLO Behavioral Health Department engaged community stakeholders in discussions around mental health and substance use disorder policy, program planning and implementation, monitoring, workforce, quality improvement, health equity, evaluation, and budget allocation. 

Other topics have historically involved accessibility, care coordination and navigation, community outreach and education, crisis response services, culturally appropriate and affirming care, support for people experiencing homelessness, services for youth and transition age youth, and workforce capacity and diversity. 

  • Updates to allocations for local services and state-directed funding categories.
  • Broadens the target population to include individuals with substance use disorder.
  • Focuses on the most vulnerable and at-risk groups, including children and youth.
  • Advances community-defined practices (community-based practices that have reached a strong level of support within specific communities) as a key strategy for reducing health disparities and increasing community representation.
  • Revises county processes and improves transparency and accountability.
Whereas the Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan required under the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) focused exclusively on MHSA dollars, the BHSA establishes the IP to serve as a three-year prospective global spending plan that describes how county behavioral health departments plan to use all available behavioral health funding, including BHSA, 1991 and 2011 Realignment, federal grant programs, federal financial participation from Medi-Cal, opioid settlement funds, local funding, and other funding to meet statewide and local outcome measures, reduce disparities, and address the unmet need in their community. 
The County of San Luis Obispo Integrated Plan is written by Behavioral Health staff over a series of months. The plan takes some time to be published as it must be developed through a transparent community planning process, approved by the county board of supervisors, and submitted via the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) web-based portal in accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code §5963.02.

Steps involved to make the Integrated Plan are:
  1. Conduct Stakeholder Engagement
  2. Submit Draft IP with County Administration Officer Approval, Including Exemption and Funding Transfer Requests
  3. Behavioral Health Board Reviews Integrated Plan
  4. County Board of Supervisors Approves Final Integrated Plan
  5. Submit Final Integrated Plan to DHCS and Behavioral Health Oversight and Accountability Commission

 
Under BHSA, counties are required to provide a 30-day minimum public comment period for their Integrated Plans or Annual Updates. A Public Hearing on the Integrated Plan draft will be held at the end of the 30-day public comment period during the Behavioral Health Board meeting on January 21st, 2026. Details on the hearing and future board meetings can be found here: Behavioral Health Board. 

The Integrated Plan is required to have sections on the following topics: 

  • County Demographics and Behavioral Health Needs 

  • Plan Goals and Objectives 

  • Community Planning Process 

  • Comment Period and Public Hearing 

  • County Behavioral Health Care Continuum Capacity 

  • Services by Total Funding Source 

  • Behavioral Health Services Fund Programs 

  • Workforce Strategy 

  • Budget and Prudent Reserve 

Stakeholder engagement involved gathering input from providers, local partners, and residents with unique perspectives across San Luis Obispo County through various engagement activities such as focus groups, key informant interviews, workgroups and committees, and community outreach.