#United States #California #mental health #California Mayors #Full-Service Partnerships

Mayors Join Forces to Combat the Mental Health Crisis in California

In an unprecedented move, mayors from California's major cities have formed a coalition to tackle the pressing issue of mental health within their communities. This initiative comes in response to alarming statistics revealing that a significant percentage of unhoused individuals in California have contended with severe mental health challenges at some point in their lives. Many have experienced a tragic cycle of homelessness, emergency room visits, and incarceration without receiving the necessary mental health support.

On April 9, 2025, mayors from 13 of the largest cities in California, alongside the Steinberg Institute and the California Behavioral Health Association, voiced their commitment to advocating for Assembly Bill 348, spearheaded by Assemblywoman Maggy Krell. This proposed legislation emphasizes the importance of Full-Service Partnerships (FSPs) in providing comprehensive care to those most in need.

The push for presumptive eligibility under AB 348 aims to streamline access to mental health services, ensuring that vulnerable populations can receive timely and effective care. The legislation focuses on individuals experiencing serious mental illnesses and sets forth provisions to prioritize those who are unhoused, recently released from prison, or have faced multiple emergency room visits. By establishing a framework that addresses these critical barriers to mental health access, California hopes to reduce the number of individuals falling through the cracks of the healthcare system.

The urgency of this initiative is evident, as recent data indicates that 82% of the state's unhoused population has reported struggles with serious mental health issues. Many of these individuals cycle through streets, emergency rooms, and jails without ever finding resolution or support. FSPs have proven to be a crucial solution, offering an array of services including housing assistance, job support, and round-the-clock crisis intervention.

Despite the clear benefits, inconsistent policies across counties and inefficient evaluation processes have delayed access to these essential services, leaving thousands without the critical care they need.

Several mayors have stepped forward to support this vital legislation. Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson expressed her appreciation for AB 348, noting it as a significant step towards improving mental health service delivery for the most vulnerable. "Riverside is dedicated to finding solutions that balance compassion and accountability, and AB 348 embodies that commitment," she remarked.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie echoed this sentiment, stating that the bill would tackle the dual challenges of addiction and homelessness, ensuring that the government remains accountable for addressing these issues. He emphasized the need for real support in the city’s endeavors to confront the behavioral health crisis affecting its streets.

Under this new policy, key improvements are anticipated, including:
1. Preventing Homelessness and Recidivism: By linking at-risk individuals with behavioral health services, California can proactively address mental health issues before they escalate.
2. Reducing Delays in Care: The streamlined process aims to guarantee that help is provided swiftly following the identification of a need.
3. Enhancing Care Coordination: Improved systems will facilitate more efficient use of emergency resources, thus minimizing unnecessary encounters with law enforcement.
4. Adhering to Proposition 1: The bill aligns with existing requirements to expand FSP slots for high-need individuals, ensuring that resources are effectively allocated.

According to Darrell Steinberg, founding member of the Steinberg Institute and former Mayor of Sacramento, the current care system is chaotic and inequitable. "At present, those who are the sickest often face the toughest barriers to obtaining care," he stated. By instituting a statewide standard under AB 348, the goal is to ensure that the highest-needs individuals—those experiencing the severe impacts of mental illness—receive the timely help they require, regardless of their location.

As the collaboration of California's mayors unfolds, the hope is that these efforts will not only lead to legislative changes but will also cultivate a more compassionate, responsive, and accessible mental health system for some of society's most vulnerable individuals. For ongoing updates on this initiative and additional information, community members and concerned parties are encouraged to visit the Steinberg Institute's legislative page.