Meeting Minutes - Final

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Behavioral

Health Board

4:30 PM

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

1025 Escobar Street, Martinez |

https://cchealth.zoom.us/j/99553669464 | Call

in: +1 646 518 9805

Meeting ID: 995 5366 9464

The public may attend this meeting in person at either above location. The public may also

attend this meeting remotely via Zoom or call-in.

Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the

Board

Roll Call and Introductions

Campbell called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.

Anthony Arias, Y'Anad Burrell, Logan Campbell, Ken Carlson,

Roland Fernandez, Laura Griffin, Anya Gupta, Candace Hendra,

Avery Gould, and Jenelle Towle

Present

Absent

Candace Andersen, Rebecca Harper, Alexander Quintero, Dhoryan

Rizo, and Max Sala

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Board and not on this agenda (speakers

may be limited to two minutes).

Campbell provided public comment to inform the Board that the organizations, Support4Recovery and

Carson's Wings of Hope, had held a holiday event at John Muir Elementary in Martinez, which was

attended by 250 people and included meals, gifts, and activities for attendees.

There were no additional requests for public comment.

RECEIVE and APPROVE the Meeting Minutes from the November 5, 2025 Behavioral Health

Board meeting, with any necessary corrections

There were no requests for public comment on this item.

This was approved.

Motion:

Second:

Hendra

Griffin

Aye:

Arias, Burrell, Campbell, Carlson, Fernandez, Griffin, Gupta,

Hendra, Gould, and Towle

Absent:

Result:

Andersen, Harper, Quintero, Rizo, and Sala

Passed

RECEIVE and APPROVE the Meeting Minutes from the December 3, 2025 Behavioral Health

Board meeting, with any necessary corrections

There were no requests for public comment on this item.

Motion:

Second:

Carlson

Gupta

Aye:

Arias, Burrell, Campbell, Carlson, Fernandez, Griffin, Gupta,

Hendra, Gould, and Towle

Absent:

Result:

Andersen, Harper, Quintero, Rizo, and Sala

Passed

Meet and Greet with Contra Costa Health Services Director and CEO, Dr. Grant Colfax

This item was moved to the start of the meeting.

Dr. Grant Colfax, MD, Director of Contra Costa Health, expressed appreciation for the Board’s work

and emphasized the importance of community leadership and guidance. He shared his background in

medicine and behavioral health and noted his commitment to prioritizing behavioral health services. Dr.

Colfax highlighted progress made through increased resources, acknowledged ongoing needs such as

integrating mental health and substance use treatment, and stressed the goal of ensuring access across the

spectrum of care. He affirmed Contra Costa Health’s support for community partnerships and

data-driven investments. Dr. Colfax also thanked Supervisor Carlson and the Board for their leadership

and strong support of behavioral health initiatives.

There were no requests for public comment on this item.

RECEIVE report from Ad Hoc Nominating Committee

Campbell provided a report on progress completed by Nominating Committee for the Chairperson and

Vice-Chairperson officer roles.

The Nominating Committee met on December 9 to plan solicitation of Board members for officer roles

and again on December 17 to review responses and prepare a nomination slate. All Board members were

contacted, and those expressing interest confirmed inclusion on the slate for Chairperson and/or

Vice-Chairperson roles. Board staff Daniel Colin announced the slate of nominees.

There were no requests for public comment on this item.

RECEIVE report from Behavioral Health Services Director, Suzanne Tavano, PhD

Dr. Tavano and leadership staff reported that Behavioral Health received top honors from the California

Association of Public Hospitals for efforts to improve follow-up care within 30 days after emergency

department visits for mental health or substance use.

Program Chief of Managed Care, Katy White, noted the collaboration with Contra Costa Health Plan,

Public Health, and Hospital, as well as work with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Program

Chief of Child and Adolescent Services, Gerold Loenicker, shared that First Hope was recognized by the

Child Welfare League of America for its program model and services.

Dr. Tavano announced that the Miles Hall Crisis Call Center and teams would transition to the new

Community Health and Safety branch within Health Services while maintaining coordination with

Behavioral Health.

Additional updates were provided on Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP)

projects, including pending applications for HomeKey+ and El Portal funding, and progress on major

projects such as Brookside in Richmond, East County facilities in Antioch, and the Oak Grove campus,

which will house the Miles Hall Crisis Call Center and other services.

One public comment was received for this item.

Jill Ray, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Supervisor Candace Andersen, requested status of vacancies

on the Board.

Adjourn for Public Hearing

Meeting was adjourned for Public Hearing at 5:08 p.m.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for February 4, 2026.

Public Hearing on the Behavioral Health Integrated Plan for Fiscal Years 2026-2029

Campbell began the Public Hearing on the Behavioral Health Services Act Integrated Plan for Fiscal

Years (FY) 2026-2029 at 5:08 p.m.

Two people chose to provide public comment.

Lisa Malul, Executive Director of Contra Costa Crisis Center, urged the county to include 988 and the

Contra Costa Crisis Center in the BHSA Integrated Plan, noting that the Crisis Center operates the

county’s 24/7 suicide and crisis line and coordinates handoffs to other county programs. They requested

explicit recognition of 988 and the Crisis Center’s role as a core partner to accurately reflect the existing

crisis continuum and meet state requirements.

Teresa Pasquini, a former Mental Health Commissioner and long-time advocate, commended the Board

and staff for their thorough work on the BHSA plan and acknowledged the significant effort involved.

She expressed pride in Contra Costa’s system, shared her personal experience, and affirmed her support

for ongoing transformation efforts, including integration of substance use services and recent initiatives.

This item was forwarded without recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for

approval.

Motion:

Carlson

Second:

Griffin

Aye:

Arias, Burrell, Campbell, Carlson, Fernandez, Griffin, Gupta,

Hendra, Gould, and Towle

Absent:

Result:

Andersen, Harper, Quintero, Rizo, and Sala

Passed

General Information

The Behavioral Health Board will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities

planning to attend the Board meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the

meeting. Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and

distributed by the County to a majority of members of the Board less than 96 hours prior to that meeting

are available for public inspection at 1340 Arnold Drive, Suite 200, Martinez, CA 94553, during normal

business hours. Staff reports related to items on the agenda are also accessible online at

www.contracosta.ca.gov. If the Zoom connection malfunctions for any reason, the meeting may be

paused while a fix is attempted. If the connection is not reestablished, the committee will continue the

meeting in person without remote access. Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on

agenda items at least one full work day prior to the published meeting time.

For additional information contact: Daniel Colin (Daniel.Colin@cchealth.org)