CDPH Releases BHSA Population-Based Prevention Program Final Plan  

This week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Population-Based Prevention Final Plan, which lays out CDPH’s strategic approach to implementing the state’s Behavioral Health Transformation efforts. The Plan includes the implementation strategies and investments for each component over Fiscal Years 2026-2029, as well as information about the BHSA statutory requirements.  

Statute requires a minimum of four percent of total BHSA funds to be allocated to CDPH for population-based prevention programs, and 51 percent of these funds must be used for programs serving populations who are 25 years of age or younger. Total annual funding for population-based prevention programs is estimated to be approximately $135 million annually.   

A summary of the finalized BHSA prevention funding investments can be found below and is included as Figure 1 in the Plan.  

Notably, the Plan includes the $12 million annually for California’s 61 Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) to act as the local behavioral health prevention coordinators and conveners, as was proposed in Phase 2 of the Guide. LHJs will be required to coordinate convenings with specific stakeholders, including county behavioral health, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, CBOs, and more. These local convenings will also be used to inform the development or update of required local suicide prevention plans.  

CDPH will be issuing funding announcements and additional resources throughout the year, including the statewide evaluation framework and community-defined evidence practice list. Updates will be posted on CDPH’s Transforming Behavioral Health webpage, where stakeholders can also subscribe for updates.