Kate Wolffe

Cities are experimenting with new ways to meet the rapidly increasing demand for behavioral health crisis intervention, at a time when incidents of police shooting and killing people in mental health crisis have become painfully familiar.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing “988,” or the Crisis Text Line by texting “HOME” to 741741.

Simone Popperl, Author at KFF Health News

Samantha Rabins, of the Mental Health Center of Denver, prepares to roll out with a Denver police officer in Dec. 2017. Such “co-responder programs” are one of the new ways cities and counties aim to meet the rapidly increasing demand for behavioral health crisis intervention, at a time when incidents of police shooting and killing people in mental health crisis have become painfully familiar. (AARON ONTIVEROZ/THE DENVER POST VIA GETTY IMAGES)

Among other things, the proposition would change the terms of the Mental Health Services Act, a law passed by voters in 2004 that uses a 1% tax on high earners to help pay for mental health services.

Californians are split in early returns over a statewide ballot measure that Gov. Gavin Newson says he needs to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis. Proposition 1 was the only measure on the ballot and was too close to call Wednesday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a Proposition 1 campaign event at the Service Employees International Union office in San Francisco, Monday, March 4, 2024.

A Sacramento official says the California Campus Opioid Safety Act, which went into effect last year, will help “normalize Narcan” in the community. The county coroner documented 385 fentanyl-related deaths last year.

Workers conducted a three-day strike this week to call attention to ongoing contract negotiations with the health care giant. They allege some concerns about wages and unsafe staffing levels haven’t been addressed.

To balance the budget, Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing eliminating an annual $300 million payment to public health, instituted after COVID. Advocates warn it could leave us more susceptible to another disease threat.