The current behavioral health system in San Diego is not meeting the needs of children and youth.

“WHEN FAMILIES AND CARETAKERS FIND CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORTSFROM SCHOOLS, PHYSICIANS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IT’S DUE TO PERSEVERANCE, PRIVILEGE AND LUCK RATHER THAN A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM”

2024 Children Now, California Children’s Report Card

Please join us in championing a comprehensive behavioral health system and equitable resources to meet theunique social, developmental, and clinical needs of children and youth with timely access to services. This systemshould include family support services, screening, assessment, prevention, early intervention and treatment forspecialized populations and acuity levels.

Your commitment can be realized by supporting six recommendations that will protect andenhance the well being of our county’s children & youth.

1

ADVOCACYCreate a comprehensive behavioral health continuum of care strategy for children, youth andfamilies to advance and measure County Behavioral Health Services focus areas: 1) FamilySystem Work and Supports, 2) School Engagement and Care Opportunities, and 3) HealthIntegration that includes assessing current capacity and utilization of care.

2

Develop transparent way to track children, youth and families behavioral health servicesspending to determine prorportionate investment and monitoring of children and youth.

3

Protect Children, Youth and Families Behavioral Health Services current funding (hold harmless)and receive fair share of new funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 24-25 budget to maintain access toservices.

4

Analyze the impact of Proposition 1 (funding reallocation from MHSA to BHSA) on County Children, Youth and Families Behavioral Health spending and preserve funding levels and ongoing commitment to enhanced capacity and timely access within the continuum of care.

5

Develop behavioral health workforce proposals to include strategies and targeted investmentsfor specialized training for clinicians and other behavioral health professionals to serve theunique needs of the child and youth across all age groups.

6

Elevate the youth and family voice on San Diego County behavioral health commissions andboards that discuss behavioral health policy, resource allocation and priorities by includingyouth ambassadors, standing children & youth services updates and targeted discussions.

Statistics

25%

San Diego County’s’ investment in the Children & Youth Behavioral Health System of Care has decreased by 25% over the past 5 years. San Diego County had a lower penetration rate than other large counties and California across all categories.

9,846

Only 9,846 children and youth ages 0-20 received services in FY 20/21 through the Non-Specialty Mental Health (served by Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans), which represents 2.9% of total children’s Medi-Cal population. (California Children’s Trust)

5%

Only 11,541 (or 3.5 %) of Medi-Cal children and youth in San Diego County received services in FY 21/22 through the County Behavioral Health Specialty Care System, a 5%decrease from the previous year.

The crisis is well documented as evidenced by the below research studies. It is vital to recognize the uniqueness of the children and youth system of care as it serves, preserves, and strengthens the whole family while addressing the specific mental health needs of the child.

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Children’s Hospital Association have declared a national emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.[1]
  • The US Surgeon General has issued an Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health. [2]
  • The 2024 California Children’s Report Card has issued a grade of D+ for Supporting Mental Health and a grade of D- for Preventing Substance Abuse.[3]
  • In California, the percentage of children (ages 2-17) who had anxiety or depression increased by 70%.[4]
  • In 2021, 42% of adolescents reported feelings of sadness and hopelessness – which can be indicative of depressive disorder – up from 28% in 2011, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis[5] of a new federal survey of teen health that was released in 2024.
  • Mental health issues are the #1 reason California Kids are hospitalized.[6]
  • Suicides are the second leading cause of death among adolescents.[7]
  • California ranked 51 (out of 50 states & D.C.) for parents reporting it was not possible to obtain mental health care for their child.[8] Denials by health plans are a major barrier to kids getting mental health care.

Our Work

Connecting children and their families to the appropriate level of care is paramount to the ideal system.   Learn more about moving into the clinical system of care. 

Recommendations

Click here to see the recommendations were developed based on the assessment of challenges and opportunities in our children’s behavioral health system.