California lawmakers called an informational hearing on mental health services at Kaiser Permanente, but the company didn’t attend.

Calls to LGBTQ crisis lines spiked after President Donald Trump’s election. His policies target health care for young transgender people, creating uncertainty for a vulnerable community. A spate of recent policy decisions by the Trump administration targeting transgender youth has led to an escalating mental health crisis among an already vulnerable population, experts and advocates say.

Californians in March will vote on a $6.4 billion bond to build thousands of housing units for people with serious mental health conditions. A 2018 ballot measure made similar promises, but Santa Clara County and the rest of the state are falling short.

The new law addresses serious problems with nursing home licensing in California, but some elder care advocates say it misses a chance to protect residents and consumers.

The union representing 2,000 Kaiser Northern California mental health works announced plans for an open-ended strike this month, citing high workloads and long waits for patients.

The new federal number is billed as an alternative to 911 for people experiencing mental health emergencies. A bill would allow California to fund call centers with new fees on phone lines.

The Newsom administration plans to spend $4.4 billion addressing mental health needs among young people. But will it come soon enough?

Shlomo Rechnitz is the Los Angeles-based, multi-billionaire owner of Brius, which owns two nursing homes in Santa Clara County, Cupertino Healthcare & Wellness Center and San Jose Healthcare & Wellness Center, plus five in Alameda County and one in Contra Costa County.

The California Department of Public Health blames problems at nursing homes on staffing shortages, turnover, training and pandemic pressures at hearing at the Capitol.