In 2013, Senate Bill 82, the Investment in Mental Health Wellness Act of 2013, established a competitive grant program to disburse funds to California counties or to their nonprofit or public agency designees for the purpose of developing mental health crisis support programs. In 2016, Senate Bill 833 (Section 20) expanded the Investment in Mental Health Wellness Act to specifically address a continuum of crisis services for children and youth, 21 years of age and under and allocated approximately $27 million to specifically fund four mental health programs – crisis residential treatment, crisis stabilization, mobile crisis support teams and family respite care.

The grants from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) will be disbursed to California counties or to their nonprofit or public agency designees to support capital improvement, expansion and limited start-up costs. See pages 4-5 of the regulations for additional information on eligible costs: https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/chffa/imhwa/childrenyouth/regulations/cy-regulations.pdf

The following entities are eligible to apply: A county; Counties Applying Jointly; A private nonprofit corporation or public agency designated by a county or Counties Applying Jointly to be a co-Applicant with the county or Counties Applying Jointly.