SACRAMENTO—Gov. Jerry Brown Thursday signed AB 2568, a bill authored by Assembly Speaker Emeritus Toni G. Atkins that authorizes the County of San Diego to be designated as an integrated Health and Human Services Agency.
San Diego County has been running an integrated agency overseeing all health and human-services departments since 1998. It has worked well for county residents who require services such as those dealing with aging and independence, behavioral-health, child-welfare, public-health and self-sufficiency programs.
However, the county hasn’t enjoyed official designation, which gives counties added flexibility in budgeting between department accounts.
“With this new flexibility, our county will be more nimble when it comes to providing behavioral-health care and protective services,” said Atkins (D-San Diego). “San Diego County will now be able to direct funding where it’s needed most, depending on the needs of local residents.”
