EMSA Approves Stanislaus County’s Alternate Destination Program
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Providence Gifts Crucial Dollars to Behavioral Health Triage Project in Arcata
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Hospital and health care leaders recently gathered to celebrate a landmark $2 million donation from Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka to support the development of a new behavioral health triage center on the Mad River Community Hospital campus in Arcata.
Solano County Establishes SB 43 Implementation Workgroup
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Senate Bill (SB) 43, which was signed into law in 2023, expands the definition of “gravely disabled” for the involuntary detention, treatment, or conservatorship of individuals with behavioral health conditions to include those living with severe substance use disorders. Solano County will implement the new law on Jan. 1, 2026, and has established an SB 43 workgroup that is meeting bimonthly. Solano County hospitals and Hospital Council participate in this meeting along with other stakeholders.
San Francisco to Open New Police-Friendly Stabilization Center
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In April, San Francisco will open a 24/7 police-friendly stabilization center at 822 Geary Street, where police officers can drop off people with urgent mental health and substance abuse needs so they can receive medical care. The goal is to keep people out of jails and emergency departments (EDs) and the city’s limited law enforcement resources on the street. With powers granted by the recently passed Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance, the city is able to expedite the center’s opening.
SB 43 Work Progresses in San Mateo, Santa Clara Counties
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Santa Clara County (SCC) has kicked off a workgroup to implement Senate Bill (SB) 43 (2023), which expands the definition of “gravely disabled” to include individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). In late March, the county behavioral health department will update the SCC Board of Supervisors on its plans for this effort.
Sonoma County Crisis Stabilization Unit Reopens
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After being closed for six months, Sonoma County’s crisis stabilization unit (CSU) reopened for patient care on Feb. 8.
Eureka Police Department Leads the Way in Decriminalizing Mental Illness
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Through innovative de-escalation techniques and structural changes in its approach to crisis intervention, the Eureka Police Department (EPD) is transforming how law enforcement handles mental illness and substance abuse crises, effectively reducing 5150 (involuntary psychiatric) holds by 68% since 2018 and diverting nearly 93% of crisis calls in 2024 from hospitalization or incarceration.
Collaborative Models for Expediting Access to Behavioral Health Care: A Panel Discussion with Industry Experts
Join industry experts from California county mental health agencies, Psychiatric Health Facilities, behavioral health hospitals, and health systems to learn how they are successfully implementing a patient transfer model using innovative technology. Launched 18 months ago, the model has been instrumental in reducing barriers and fostering collaboration to expedite access to behavioral health care.