Prop 1 Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program Round 2 (Unmet Needs) Letter of Support Process

NOTE: As of 5:00pm (PT) on 10/28/25, DHCS is no longer accepting applications for the BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs grant. Award announcements are anticipated in late spring 2026. Please refer to DHCS' BHCIP webpage for more information.

 

The Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023 (BHIBA) was one of the two bills included in Proposition 1, which passed in March 2024. BHIBA provides $6.38 billion to expand behavioral health treatment, residential care settings, and supportive housing for people experiencing mental health and substance use conditions.

Of the total $6.38 billion, the California Department of Health Care Services will distribute up to $4.4 billion in competitive grant funds for qualified applicants who have capital projects that align with the goals of BHIBA described above. This competitive grant program is known as the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) with opportunities released in the following two rounds:

  • BHCIP Round 1: “Launch Ready” Projects (2024)
  • BHCIP Round 2: “Unmet Needs” Projects (2025)

Letters of Support for Bond BHCIP Round 2

As required by the State, Entities applying for the Bond BHCIP Program Round 2: Unmet Needs grant must obtain and submit a Letter of Support from their local County Behavioral Health Agency and meet State criteria and priorities. Scroll below to view complete requirements.

Receipt of a Letter of Support from the San Diego County Behavioral Health Agency does not guarantee that the State will award grant funding for the project.

Important Dates

  • June 2, 2025: Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs Request for Applications (RFA) released
  • June 2, 2025: Application portal opened on State website
  • June 2 - October 1, 2025: Required pre-application consultation (PAC) period
  • August 29, 2025: PAC requests due
  • October 28, 2025, by 5:00 PM (PT): Applications due
  • Spring 2026: Award announcements anticipated

For the most current information about grant requirements, deadlines, or updates, refer to the State website.

Requirements

To be eligible to receive a Letter of Support from the County of San Diego, Behavioral Health Agency, the following are required:

  • Project must align with all State criteria
  • Project must align with one or more State priorities
  • Submit a Letter of Support to BHSContactUs.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov at least two weeks prior to the application deadline. Late requests will still be accepted but may not have sufficient time to be processed prior to the deadline.

Request a Letter of Support

To request a Letter of Support, entities must:

  1. Provide a completed Draft Letter of Support Template (Word)
    • Input all entity and project information as indicated on the template
  2. Submit your Letter of Support Request via email to BHSContactUs.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov two weeks prior to the date needed
    • Include "BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs Grant" and the name of the requesting entity in the subject line of the email
    • Provide Point of Contact(s) email address(es) - for questions and follow-up. Example: [BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs Grant (Name of Entity)]
    • Include in the body of your email the following project information: Proposed New Capacity (# of beds, treatment slots); Total Project Cost (the total dollar amount needed to complete your project); and the Total BHCIP Round 2 Grant Funding Requested (the dollar amount you are requesting from the grant)

Example:

Proposed New Capacity # of Beds, Treatment Slots
Total Project  Cost $ (Dollar Amount)
Total BHCIP Round 2 Grant Funding Requested $ (Dollar Amount)

County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services staff may contact you with questions or for more information. If your request for a Letter of Support is approved, the contact(s) provided will receive the Letter via email.

For any questions regarding the County of San Diego's Letter of Support process for the Bond BHCIP Round 2 Grant, please contact BHSContactUs.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Additional Resources