Resources
As new Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) housing requirements take effect in 2026, counties will be required to dedicate significant funding to housing and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness. Our white paper highlights how even the most intensive service models—costing approximately $300 per client, per day—can be fully supported through Medi-Cal and BHSA funding, significantly reducing pressure on county general funds.
Read the full paper here.
The recent wildfires in Southern California have caused significant disruption and heartache for many of our cherished communities, displacing families and altering lives in ways we can hardly comprehend. The demand for behavioral health and nonprofit services has surged to unprecedented levels, yet in the face of such adversity, we are inspired by the remarkable resilience of our community members who remain dedicated to offering vital support.
In response, the California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA) is honored to introduce our Wildfire Resource Guide, crafted in collaboration with the esteemed office of Assemblymember John Harabedian. This essential resource underscores our steadfast dedication to equipping behavioral health providers and human services organizations with the necessary tools and insights to effectively navigate the challenges brought on by these wildfire-related crises.
The guide includes:
- Best practices from member organizations who have faced these challenges firsthand
- Funding opportunities to support recovery efforts
- Practical resources for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
CBHA, alongside other community partners wrote a joint letter to state partners conveying the urgent needs of community-based providers whose clients, staff, and facilities were severely impacted by the recent Los Angeles fires.
Please click here to read the submitted letter.
To help those affected by the Southern CA Wildfires, CBHA has been working diligently to cultivate housing and well-being resources tailored to the immediate and long-term needs of wildfire survivors. These resources are available to assist with housing stability, mental health support, and access to essential services.
We encourage you to share these resources with your networks to ensure they reach those who need them most. Together, we can amplify our collective efforts to provide relief and hope to our community members.
- Wildfire Information and Resources - NAMI California
- California Wildfires and Straight-line Winds Assistance
- Airbnb Temporary Housing
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development Resources
- 988 Lifeline
- Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
- Text "TalkWithUs" to 66746
- A guide to managing stress
- Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
- Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event (CDC)
- List of mental health resources by county
- California Statewide Wildfire Recovery Resources
- Wildfire & Disaster Relief
- Recovering After a Fire
- SAMHSA’s Disaster Behavioral Health Response
- HHS emPOWER Map
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Helping Older Adults After Disasters: A Guide to Providing Support
- Eldercare Locator
- Map of Current Fires
- California Office of Emergency Services
- Cal Fire preparedness guide
- Cal Fire emergency supply kit checklist
988 has been designated as the three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis Lifeline and increase the accessibility of the Lifeline for individuals beginning July 16, 2022. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States.
How to talk to someone you are worried about:
- Ask if they're okay
- Listen to what they tell you
- Support them to get the help they need
- Talking to a young person
- Talking to someone at work
- Look after your own wellbeing
(taken from Beyond Blue)
2‑1‑1 is a free telephone number providing access to local community services. 2‑1‑1 is available in multiple languages, allowing those in need to access information and obtain referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions.
When a caller dials 2-1-1, a local exchange carrier (LEC) routes the call to the authorized 2‑1‑1 provider in the caller’s county. The provider receives the call and connects the caller to the appropriate programs and agencies drawn from the provider’s database.
2-1-1 Resources
- 211.org
- 2-1-1 California
- California Alliance of Information and Referral Services (CAIRS)
- FCC page on 2-1-1
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F 10 am – 10 pm, ET.
Connect by phone 800-950-6264 or text "Helpline"
to 62640, or chat. In a crisis call or text 988.*
Community Partners
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation
- California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - Find a support group
- Mental Health America
- Mental Health First Aid
- Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission - MHSA Funded Services by County
- National Alliance on Mental Illness - Find Support
- National Council for Behavioral Health
- National Empowerment Center
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Talk to someone (800-273-8255)
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
- Suicide Prevention and Resource Center
- Suicide.Org - California Suicide Hotlines. Suicide.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and website.
- The Trevor Project - A national 24-hour, toll-free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. (866) 488-7386.
LGBTQIA+ Older Adult Survey Report
The California Department of Aging (CDA) spearheaded the first statewide survey to explore the current and future health and wellbeing of California’s mid-life and older LGBTQIA+ population.
Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign is to ensure that every LGBTQ+ person is free to live their life openly, with their equal rights ensured. We know that goal requires that we keep educating, supporting, and inspiring ourselves and each other. In the spirit of that continual growth, we’ve compiled information and advice on a range of topics, including resources from the HRC Foundation.
You deserve a welcoming, loving world. And so do the people you care about. Here you can reach out to a counselor if you’re struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else.
The It Gets Better Project’s mission is to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe. We've identified over 1100 organizations in 40+ countries around the world offering support to LGBTQ+ youth like you. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate help, please text or call one of the numbers provided here, or search below for a local resource near you. For inquiries about this resource database, please email our staff at info@itgetsbetter.org.
Championing LGBTQ issues in K-12 education since 1990
GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together we can transform our nation's schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.
The Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)
The Division on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (DLGBTQQ) within the Asian American Psychological Association is a community of students and professionals committed to understanding the social, cultural, emotional, political, and personal factors impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) LGBTQQ identity. The division strives to continue to advance the psychological wellness of AAPI LGBTQQ individuals by supporting and empowering professionals and allies within the field of psychology and producing awareness and education on the population’s needs and concerns. Additionally, the division aims to appreciate and celebrate the resiliency of LGBTQQ individuals and professionals and the protective factors of community support that come from within the AAPI community. The division aims to foster the creation of psychological products (e.g., theory, research, services, clinical interventions, assessments, etc.) that are sensitive to and appropriate to the LGBTQQ AAPI experience. DLGBTQQ also aims to:
- unite and recruit LGBTQQ AAPI psychologists, students, mental health practitioners, and their allies;
- provide resources and support for the LGBTQQ AAPIs in psychology;
- advocate for research, competent practice, and culturally informed policies in working with the LGBTQQ AAPI community.
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center aims:
- To advance health equity for LGBTQIA+ people and the populations which may intersect with the LGBTQIA+ community
- To address and eliminate health disparities for the LGBTQIA+ community
- To optimize access to cost-effective health care for the LGBTQIA+ community
- To improve the quality of care for LGBTQIA+ people by providing training and technical assistance to health care providers and staff across the globe
Learning Resources — LGBTQIA+ People of Color
LGBTQ Youth & Family Resources to Decrease Mental Health Risks & Promote Well‐Being
Selected culture-based resources included here focus on connecting LGBTQ youth and families with organizations, events, and activities that affirm ethnic, racial, spiritual and LGBTQ & Two Spirit identities. Currently, most of the culture-based resources that are available in the community were developed for adults and few were specifically developed for youth. This list includes culture-based resources for youth, together with general resources to provide information for youth & families, as well as access to culture-based community events and activities, including Pride events.
PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
CBHA is supporting the California Data Exchange Framework Data Sharing Agreement (DxF DSA). We know that quality of care is partly dependent on the availability and accessibility of patient records and data, so the DxF DSA aims to accelerate and facilitate that exchange of health information.
This framework is the first-ever, statewide data-sharing agreement that will transform how care is delivered among different entities. If we take a step back to consider what actions we can take to help improve the delivery of whole-person care, fostering collaboration among interdisciplinary teams is key.
Health and social services providers are joining the DxF in a shared commitment to providing safe, effective, whole-person care and creating a Healthy California for All. Providers are agreeing to new rules of the road for securely and appropriately exchanging information and implementing data exchange technology to better serve patients throughout California.
We would like to applaud the following members for signing the Data Sharing Agreement and demonstrating their commitment to secure data exchange! We are also thrilled to see community-based organizations be selected as recipients of the DSA Signatory Grant.
- Children's Institute (Grant Recipient)
- Chinatown Service Center of LA (Grant Recipient)
- Felton Institute (Grant Recipient)
- Gardner Health Services
- Heritage Clinics
- Hillsides
- Kings View
- La Clinica De La Raza (Grant Recipient)
- Pacific Clinics
- Pathpoint
- San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation (Grant Recipient)
- San Ysidro Health (Grant Recipient)
- Serene Health IPA (Grant Recipient)
- Southern California Health & Rehabilitation Program (SCHARP)
- Sycamores
- Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc.
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corp (Grant Recipient)
- Turning Point Community Programs
- Victor Community Support Services
- The Village Family Services
- WellSpace Heath
If you have any further inquiries the DxF, please contact Melissa Santos-Martinez at msmartinez@cccbha.org.
Data Sharing Agreement: