In San Francisco, 51% of the city’s homeless population live with a psychiatric or emotional condition. Additionally, 75% of people in jail have a serious mental illness. In 2023, the city faced the deadliest year for drug overdoses. Unfortunately, many individuals in need of behavioral health services struggle to access care. They often face challenges coordinating care across multiple providers who are not in communication. Transforming behavioral health in San Francisco is crucial to improving outcomes for these residents.
Addressing Gaps in San Francisco’s Behavioral Health System
With a caseload of 4,000 clients, including those transitioning out of jail, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) faced a fragmented health system. In 2019–2020, Jeweld Consulting began working with DPH to address these issues. We recommended the creation of a new Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Director role to oversee and integrate services across the department and the community. Additionally, we proposed two deputy roles: Deputy Director of Clinical Care and Deputy Director of Quality and Plan Administration. These roles would ensure compliance with managed care requirements. By 2022, DPH implemented these changes, helping to streamline behavioral health care.
Meeting Federal Regulations and Transforming Behavioral Health in San Francisco
In 2023, DPH faced an even greater challenge: transforming its entire behavioral health system to comply with federal regulations, including the Final Rule on managed care, finalized in 2017–2018 and required by 2022–2023.
How Jeweld Consulting Supported the Transformation of Behavioral Health Services
To meet this challenge, DPH hired Jeweld Consulting to improve workflow and service delivery. We worked closely with DPH’s Division of Behavioral Health staff to identify care gaps and inefficiencies in the system. Using this feedback, we developed a comprehensive implementation plan. This plan focused on separating service delivery, reorganizing operational infrastructure, and improving information flow. We also recommended the right leadership roles to support and sustain these changes, ensuring long-term success in transforming behavioral health in San Francisco.
Building a Coordinated System of Care to Improve Behavioral Health in San Francisco
Our plan laid the foundation for creating two separate but interconnected systems. Each system is led by a director. These systems now work together to ensure that residents access timely, high-quality services. This collaborative approach is central to transforming behavioral health in San Francisco.
By guiding DPH in restructuring its behavioral health system, Jeweld Consulting is contributing to long-term improvements in mental and behavioral health outcomes. This transformation is crucial for a city seeking to address these critical issues and ensure better care for its residents.