City of Berkeley Behavioral Health Services Act
Community Input Survey

The City of Berkeley, Health, Housing & Community Services, Mental Health Division invites your input on local Behavioral Health (mental health and substance use disorder) priority needs.

Since 2006, the City of Berkeley Mental Health Division has received State funding through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to implement local mental health programs and services. Beginning, July 1, 2026 the MHSA will be replaced by the new Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA). Passed in 2024, the purpose of the BHSA is to reform the current 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 use disorders; and expand housing interventions.

As with MHSA, in order to utilize BHSA funds, community informed, Three Year Integrated Plans and Annual Updates outlining the use of funds and programming are required to be developed and approved by Berkeley City Council. An added requirement in BHSA is to obtain approval from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

Berkeley is in the process of transitioning from MHSA to BHSA which will begin with Community Input and the creation of the first Draft BHSA FY2027-2029 Three Year Integrated Plan. Input from the Berkeley community on this survey will inform the decisions that will be made on how to prioritize programs and allocate funds in the first BHSA Three Year Integrated Plan. The survey should take less than 10 minutes and will be open until 5:00pm, Wednesday, March 4th.

Question Title

* 1. How informed do you feel about the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) that was passed by voters in March 2024, which will make changes to local mental health funding and program allowances beginning July 1, 2026?

Very informed

Somewhat informed

I know a little information

Not really informed

Unsure

Question Title

* 2. Proposition 1, which implements the BHSA changes requires that the California tax collected for this purpose, to be spent on three different categories, according to the descriptions and funding percentages outlined below:

-Full Services Partnership (FSP) - 35%: Intense, wrap-around programs for individuals who experience severe mental illness or serious behavioral health issues, with the care and supports needed to promote better health and well-being.
-Behavioral Health Services & Supports (BHSS) - 35%: Community services for individuals experiencing serious mental health and/or substance use disorder needs. The programs include early intervention services and can be used on outpatient services & supports. Funds may also be utilized on outreach & engagement; staff support & training; major building and technology needs; and on innovative or creative projects.
-Housing Interventions (HI) - 30%: Primarily supports individuals who are experiencing mental health needs and/or substance use disorders and homelessness.

If you could shift 7% of BHSA funds from one category to another (so that one category has a larger amount than the others), which categoty is most important to you and would you make the largest?:

Full Services Partnership category

Behavioral Health Support Services category

Housing Interventions category

I wouldn't make any changes

Question Title

* 3. Which category is least important to you and would you make the smallest?:

Full Services Partnerhip category

Behavioral Health Services and Supports category

Housing Interventions category

I wouldn't make any changes

Question Title

* 4. Please rank the following 9 areas of needs in Berkeley in order of importance (1 most important - 9 least important) from your perspective:

Question Title

* 5. In the previous question, for the area of need that you ranked #1 as most important, please share any ideas, strategies and solutions you may have to help us improve in this area.

Question Title

* 6. Is there an area of behavioral health need (ie mental health or substance use) in Berkeley that was not mentioned in question #5 above? If so please describe, and share any ideas, strategies and solutions to help us improve in this area.

Question Title

* 7. What barriers make it harder for individuals and family members with behavioral health challenges to access needed services. Select all that apply.

Hard to find information on where to go for help.

Do not want help right now.

Embarrassed to ask for help and/or stigma around seeking help.

Services are not close to my home.

Isolated or unable to leave home.

Limited resources (financial, transportation, etc.).

Safety concerns.

Lack of providers who represent my culture, and/or speak in my preferred language.

Providers don't offer the services that are needed.

Long wait to get an appointment.

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Did we miss anything? Please share other behavioral health needs, concerns, or solutions that you may have that haven't been mentioned.

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* 9. If you would like to receive information in the future on BHSA Meetings, Integrated Plans and other related documents, please provide your name, how you would like to be contacted (ie. email, mail, phone), and your contact information.

Demographic Information
Any demographic information shared in the questions below will be anonymous and helpful to the Mental Health Division in determining which members of our community have engaged with this process, and whose priorities are being highlighted.

Question Title

* 10. What is your age?

Under 16 years of age

16-25 years of age

26-59 years of age

60+ years of age

Prefer not to Answer

Question Title

* 11. What is your ethnicity/race?

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian or Asian American

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

White

More than one race

Prefer not to Answer

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Are you of Hispanic, Latino/Latina/Latinx origin?

Yes

Prefer not to Answer

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* 13. Are you a veteran (of the US Armed Forces)?

Yes

Prefer not to Answer

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* 14. Which of the following best represents how you identify?

Straight/Heterosexual

Gay or Lesbian

Bisexual

Queer

Questionning or Unsure

Another sexual orientation

Prefer not to Answer

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* 15. What is your Gender Identity?

Male

Female

Transgender

Genderqueer

Questionning or unsure of Gender Identity

Other Gender Identity

Prefer not to Answer

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* 16. Do you identify as having any type of disability?

Yes

Prefer not to Answer

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* 17. Which of the following categories do you primarily represent? Please select all that apply.

Mental Health Services Consumer

Substance Use Disorder Services Consumer

Family Member of Mental Health and/or Substance Use Disorder services Consumer

Veteran

Homeless services advocate

Individual who has experienced homelessness

Representative of a Mental Health or Social Services Agency

Representative of Substance Use Disorder Services Agency

Representative of a HealthCare Organization

Community Member

Representative of City of Berkeley Commission

City of Berkeley Staff

Student, Parent, Staff or Representative of Berkeley Unified School District

Student, Parent, Staff or Representative of UC Berkeley or Berkeley City College

Representative of Law Enforcement

Faith-based organization representative

Prefer not to Answer

Other (please specify)

City of Berkeley Behavioral Health Services ActCommunity Input Survey

Question Title

* 1. How informed do you feel about the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) that was passed by voters in March 2024, which will make changes to local mental health funding and program allowances beginning July 1, 2026?

Question Title

Question Title

* 3. Which category is least important to you and would you make the smallest?:

Question Title

* 4. Please rank the following 9 areas of needs in Berkeley in order of importance (1 most important - 9 least important) from your perspective:

Question Title

* 5. In the previous question, for the area of need that you ranked #1 as most important, please share any ideas, strategies and solutions you may have to help us improve in this area.

Question Title

* 6. Is there an area of behavioral health need (ie mental health or substance use) in Berkeley that was not mentioned in question #5 above? If so please describe, and share any ideas, strategies and solutions to help us improve in this area.

Question Title

* 7. What barriers make it harder for individuals and family members with behavioral health challenges to access needed services. Select all that apply.

Question Title

* 8. Did we miss anything? Please share other behavioral health needs, concerns, or solutions that you may have that haven't been mentioned.

Question Title

* 9. If you would like to receive information in the future on BHSA Meetings, Integrated Plans and other related documents, please provide your name, how you would like to be contacted (ie. email, mail, phone), and your contact information.

Question Title

* 10. What is your age?

Question Title

* 11. What is your ethnicity/race?

Question Title

* 12. Are you of Hispanic, Latino/Latina/Latinx origin?

Question Title

* 13. Are you a veteran (of the US Armed Forces)?

Question Title

* 14. Which of the following best represents how you identify?

Question Title

* 15. What is your Gender Identity?

Question Title

* 16. Do you identify as having any type of disability?

Question Title

* 17. Which of the following categories do you primarily represent? Please select all that apply.

City of Berkeley Behavioral Health Services Act
Community Input Survey