Mental Health Services Act

The City of Berkeley receives funding for mental health services from the State of California’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Berkeley uses the funding to transform and expand local mental health services. 

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Mental Health Services Act will be replaced by the State of California Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA). The BHSA will modify previous MHSA funding components and program allowances to, among other things:

• prioritize services for individuals with the most significant mental health needs
• add services for individuals experiencing substance us disorders (SUD)
• expand housing interventions
• enhance oversight transparency, and accountability at the state and local levels
• increase equitable access to care

Community input will continue to inform how the City spends BHSA funding, starting with a draft BHSA FY2027-2029 Three-Year Integrated Plan.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT FUNDING EXPANDS BERKELEY'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

MHSA funds prevention, early intervention, and treatment services to support our community’s mental health. Funding can also be used for improvements to infrastructure, technology, and training to support mental health services. MHSA funds services that are culturally responsive, consumer-informed, and focused on wellness and recovery.

Berkeley has used MHSA funding to provide:

• Expanded services for homeless people
• More intensive services for children with serious emotional needs
• New employment coordination for clients
• Expanded services to families
• Expanded consumer advocacy services
• More services for "transition-age youth" (ages 16 - 25), especially for those who are homeless
• Expanded multicultural outreach services

Projects are selected with public input

You can help give input on how to spend the upcoming BHSA funding. Community members can give input by completing a survey or attending an input meeting:

• Fill out the Behavioral Services Act Survey by Wednesday, March 4, 2026
• Attend one of twelve community input meetings during February (see upcoming meetings at the bottom of this page)

All community members are invited to give input, including: Youth, Adults and Older Adults who experience severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders; families of children, and youth who experience serious emotional disturbances or other mental health needs; individuals who are unhoused or experience homelessness and have behavioral health needs; behavioral health providers; local social services agencies; representatives from law enforcement agencies, schools, and faith-based organizations; individuals from cultural and ethnic populations who are underserved in the behavioral health system, and other stakeholder groups and interested community members.

Please contact Karen Klatt, MHSA/BHSA Coordinator, (510) 9817644, KKlatt@berkeleyca.gov for questions about upcoming meetings. For questions or inquiries about Mental Health Services, please email mentalhealth@berkeleyca.gov

MHSA/BHSA documents

Recent MHSA/BHSA documents are listed below, or you can view all MHSA documents.

Current Three-year Plan and Annual Updates

The three-year plan outlines how the City plans to spend MHSA funds over the next three years. The plan is updated annually for the upcoming fiscal year. The Three-year Plans and Updates for MHSA are listed by date below:

• MHSA FY26 Annual Update
• MHSA FY25 Annual Update
• MHSA FY23/24 - 25/26 Three Year Program and Expenditure Plan
• MHSA FY22/23 Annual Update
• MHSA FY21/22 Annual Update (Revised)
• MHSA FY20/21 Annual Update
• MHSA FY20/21 - 22/23 Three Year Program and Expenditure Plan (Revised)

Current Innovation (INN) Project plans

Learn about and provide input on Innovation projects by reading the project plan.

• MHSA Innovations Encampment-based Mobile Wellness Center Project Plan (Revised)

Reports

The annual revenue and expenditure reports provide transparency into how MHSA funding has been spent over the previous fiscal year.

• MHSA FY2021-22 Annual Revenue and Expenditure Report
• MHSA FY2020-21 Annual Revenue and Expenditure Report
• MHSA FY2019-20 Annual Revenue and Expenditure Report
• MHSA FY2018-19 Annual Revenue and Expenditure Report 

Additional reports provide transparency into the operation of individual projects.

• Early Childhood Trauma and Resiliency Project (ECTR) Final 3-Year Evaluation Report - August 2021
• "Impact Berkeley" Results Based Accountability PEI Funded Programs FY2020 Fact Sheet Report
• "Impact Berkeley" Results Based Accountability PEI Funded Programs FY2019 Fact Sheet Report
• Homeless Outreach & Treatment Team Final Evaluation Report