CDPH Releases Phase 2 of BHSA Population-Based Prevention Program Guide, Public Comment Due Dec. 2 

This week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the highly-anticipated draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Population-Based Prevention Program Guide – Phase 2 (Phase 2 Guide). The Phase 2 Guide is intended to complement the Phase 1 Guide released back in June, and provides the proposed operational and administrative components to carry out the BHSA Population-Based Prevention Framework beginning July 2026 for a three-year period (Fiscal Years 2026-2029).  

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 $120 million annually.  

A summary table of proposed BHSA prevention funding investments can be found below and is included as Appendix B of the Phase 2 Guide: 

Notably, the Phase 2 guide proposes to invest $12 million annually (approx. 10%) to a grant program for California’s 61 local health jurisdictions (LHJs). LHJs will be required to act as the local behavioral health prevention coordinator and convener, and will be required to engage with specific stakeholders, including county behavioral health, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, community-based organizations, and other local stakeholders. Additionally, these local convenings are intended to be used to inform the development or update of required local suicide prevention plans.   

Counties are encouraged to submit public comment by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 through Microsoft Forms.  To help inform advocacy and engagement, CSAC respectfully requests that counties also send a copy of submitted public comment to Danielle Bradley at dbradley@counties.org.  

Additional information on CDPH’s behavioral health planning and engagement process, including a soon to be posted recording of the Phase 2 Guide webinar, is available on CDPH’s website.