Behavioral Health Services Act

The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) supports county public mental health systems by:

• Raising awareness
• Promoting the early identification of mental health problems
• Making access to treatment easier
• Improving the effectiveness of services
• Reducing the use of out-of-home and institutional care
• Eliminating stigma toward those with severe mental illness or serious emotional disturbance

Access BHSA documents, including policies, resources, and reports.

Recovery-oriented treatment services

We provide services such as:

• Individual or group therapy
• Medication management
• Residential treatment

Our Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs include case management based on a philosophy of doing “whatever it takes” to help individuals diagnosed with Severe Mental Illness or Severe Emotional Disturbance to lead independent, meaningful, and productive lives. Services include:

• Integrated, recovery-oriented mental health treatment
• Intensive case management and linkage to essential services
• Housing and vocational support
• Self-help

Some funds also support:

• Trauma recovery programs
• Behavioral health and juvenile justice integration
• Prevention and recovery in early psychosis program
• Behavioral health access center
• Dual diagnosis residential treatment
• Behavioral health and primary care

Mental health promotion and early intervention (PEI) services

Mental health promotion and early intervention (PEI) services include engagement of diverse communities, individual participants, their families, and community partners. Programs provide mental health prevention and intervention services at sites where people would not normally go for mental health services (such as community-based organizations, schools, ethnic specific cultural centers, and health providers). The PEI includes the following program areas: 

• Stigma reduction
• School-based mental health promotion
• Population-focused mental health promotion
• Mental health consultation and capacity building
• Comprehensive crisis services

Peer-to-peer support services

Peer-to-peer support services are an important part of a wellness and recovery-oriented mental health system. Mental health services clients or family members have unique skills, knowledge, and lived experience to share. Peers also support in dealing with stigma and facing economic and social barriers to wellness and recovery.

Vocational services

We helps clients and their family members with job training, job search, and retention. Services include:

• Vocational skill development and training
• Career/situational assessments
• Vocational planning and counseling
• Service coordination
• Direct job placement
• Ongoing job coaching
• Job retention services

Housing

We helps individuals with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness get permanent housing. We help connect individuals with access to short-term stabilization housing such as housing units, other MHSA housing supports, and Emergency Stabilization Units.

Behavioral health workforce development

We recruits staff from under-represented communities and develops their skills to work effectively in the mental health field. Services include:

• Mental health career pathways program
• Training and technical assistance
• Residency and internship programs
• Financial incentive programs

Capital facilities and information technology

We use finding to improve facilities and increase client access to personal health information through technology.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health Services, invites community members and stakeholders to review and comment on the draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three-Year Integrated Plan for FY 2026–2029.

The draft plan reflects community input and outlines how San Francisco will strengthen and expand access to mental health and substance use services to meet the needs of our community.

The public comment period is open April 1–30, 2026. Feedback will inform the final plan prior to approval by the San Francisco Behavioral Health Commission and Board of Supervisors, and submission to the California Department of Health Care Services.

Comments may be submitted by email to BHSA@sfdph.org or by mail to:

Behavioral Health Services Act
San Francisco Department of Public Health
1380 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

San Francisco BHSA Integrated Plan FY2026-29 - Draft for Public Comment

• For grievance and support on language services: BHS-Lang-Support@sfdph.org 
• For grievance and support on the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA): bhsa@sfdph.org
• For grievance and support on equity: BHS-JEDI@sfdph.org