Laura Montagna, chair of the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board, presented the board’s annual report to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18, noting the board reached full membership for the first time in years and reviewed major system pressures including staffing shortages and rising crisis demand.
Montagna said mobile crisis teams had more than 1,500 interactions over the year and crisis lines averaged more than 40 calls per day. She outlined imminent policy and structural changes: the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) transition from MHSA, county draft plans due by early 2026, and planned facility expansions including a triage center and a youth behavioral health facility.
The board asked supervisors to continue supporting staffing, infrastructure and community programs during the transition, and to keep community voices central to planning. Behavioral Health Director Emmy Botsler Rogers thanked the board for its partnership and urged continued collaboration.
The Board of Supervisors moved to receive and file the annual report; the motion passed by unanimous consent.
Provenance: topic introduced at SEG 1234 (board presentation start) and concluded at SEG 1488 (motion to receive and file).