The 30-day public comment period on several reports regarding county mental health services is open with officials looking for feedback.
Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will host community forums in the Westchester Training Room at 2001 28th St. from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14 in English and on Jan. 21 in Spanish.
Interested constituents may also voice their feedback virtually during these sessions.
An online survey is also available.
The public may also provide feedback at the Behavioral Health Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the same location.
Over the next 30 days, Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is seeking input from the community on several reports that pertain to the Mental Health Services Act.
Reports open for public comment include the 2026-27 Annual Report; the 2026-29 Integrated Plan, and changes to the current Innovation Project.
These reports entail continuing, new and proposed mental health programs to serve children, transitional-age youth, adults and older adults in Kern County.
The Mental Health Services Act was passed via Proposition 63 in 2004. Funding for the MHSA programs comes from a 1% tax on the income of those making more than $1 million per year.
Services are dedicated to reducing or eliminating homelessness, incarcerations, unemployment, suicide, school failure or dropout and prolonged suffering due to mental illness.
The act was developed with and by stakeholders through an extensive community planning process, a principle now held tightly to county‐level planning.
Kern BHRS serves as the behavioral health plan for Kern County. Through its network of providers, Kern BHRS provides specialty mental health and substance use services to primarily uninsured residents and Medi-Cal recipients. For more information, including local service providers, go to kernbhrs.org.
