Steinberg Institute Leads the Charge in Transforming California’s Mental Health and Substance Use Care

SACRAMENTO (February 26, 2025) – The future of mental health and substance use care is being shaped by the Steinberg Institute, California’s leading force in behavioral health policy and advocacy. At its inaugural Vision 2030 Solution Symposium, the Institute convened the state’s most influential visionaries, changemakers, and advocates—all united by a shared commitment to driving real, systemic change. As California embarks on one of the most ambitious behavioral health transformations in its history, the Steinberg Institute continues to lead the charge, ensuring that policies translate into tangible progress for communities across the state.

Held in Sacramento, the symposium was a powerful demonstration of the Institute’s role as the trusted convener and architect of California’s mental health future. Nearly 200 leaders from across sectors gathered to engage in urgent, solutions-driven conversations, moving beyond rhetoric to action. With a focus on the Vision 2030 Initiative, the Steinberg Institute is spearheading efforts to build a robust behavioral health workforce, expand access to care, and dramatically reduce hospitalization, homelessness, and incarceration among those living with behavioral health conditions.

The event featured a keynote address by California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson, who underscored the state’s deep reliance on the Steinberg Institute’s expertise in shaping and implementing transformational policies like Proposition 1. In a dynamic legislative roundtable, Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin reaffirmed the critical role the Institute plays in holding policymakers accountable, ensuring that groundbreaking mental health legislation is not just passed, but effectively executed.

Beyond policy, the Steinberg Institute continues to bring together pioneers in mental health, public health, and justice reform to drive lasting impact. Experts like Dr. Ruth Shim, Scott Budnick, and Luke Bergmann contributed their perspectives, reinforcing the urgency of collaborative action to reimagine a system that too often fails those in crisis. By elevating the voices of those on the frontlines—providers, policymakers, and people with lived experience—the Steinberg Institute ensures that California remains at the forefront of mental health innovation.

At a pivotal moment for the state, the Steinberg Institute is setting the agenda for what’s next. As the preeminent independent advocacy organization in behavioral health, it is not just shaping policy—it is shaping the future. Through bold leadership, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to action, the Institute is redefining what is possible for mental health and substance use care in California, ensuring that every individual has access to the care they deserve, when and where they need it.