DPH reports nearly 250 new behavioral‑health beds, SCRT 24/7 coverage and grants to expand care

At the Sept. 6 Health Commission meeting, Dr. Hillary Conners provided a detailed update on behavioral‑health services and Mental Health SF implementation, describing recent openings, service expansion and grant funding.

Conners said DPH has nearly 250 new open care and treatment beds citywide, about two‑thirds of the way to the stated 400‑bed target. New or recently opened sites include Somer Rise, the Drug Sobering Center, the Mina Project and Victoria's House, a 46‑bed residential rehabilitation center serving people with serious behavioral‑health conditions.

Conners described the Office of Coordinated Care's early work: from January through August the office received 101 coordinated‑care requests and is prioritizing bridge case management and justice‑involved individuals returning to the community. She said the behavioral‑health access center and Office Based Induction Center expanded evening hours and that the system is hiring to extend weekend hours.

On overdose prevention, Conners reported the street overdose response program (SOAR) has responded to nearly 868 calls and distributed harm‑reduction supplies including naloxone; the behavioral‑health pharmacy has supported naloxone distribution to more than 60 programs and DPH cited more than 2,000 reversals reported to date. Conners said fewer clients accept immediate buprenorphine starts at the scene but that 56 cumulative buprenorphine starts since program inception show promise when combined with follow‑up outreach (POET).

Conners noted several grant awards under evaluation or received: a $6.8 million award for Tenderloin crisis stabilization unit renovation, a $5.5 million community care preservation award to support board & care facilities, and a prior $1.98 million award to expand crisis care mobile units. She also described a two‑year anti‑racist/culturally humble clinical training academy planned to launch in the fall.

Commissioners asked about bed fill rates, wait lists and the accessibility of services for people with mobility needs; Conners said wait lists vary by bed type and staffing remains a constraint, but the department is working to optimize beds and expand linguistically appropriate services.

The report closed with commissioners thanking BHS staff for rapid hiring and capacity expansion; the commission requested follow‑up on the anti‑racist training schedule and bed‑optimization analysis.