The has approved a plan to make behavioral health services a separate department from the Health and Human Services Agency while also protecting access to the benefit programs CalFresh and Medi-Cal.

On Tuesday, supervisors voted 3-2 to approve forming a new subcommittee, based on a proposal from Chair Terra Lawson-Remer and Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe.

According to the two supervisors, the "Subcommittee on Social Safety Net and Behavioral Health Systems Transformation" will focus on:

Starting a multi-year process of elevating behavioral health into a standalone department with its own governance, resources and staffing;

Develop a coordinated and countywide response to federal eligibility requirements, to ensure that families don't lose healthcare or food assistance.

The subcom

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