July 21, 2026

SACRAMENTO —As a result of Governor Newsom’s reforms to modernize and expand California’s behavioral health system, the Yurok Tribe yesterday broke ground on the Wah-Sekw-Won Treatment Center (Yurok Health and Wellness), a new 53-bed inpatient residential treatment facility that will significantly expand access to culturally grounded behavioral health care for Yurok Tribal members, other Native Americans, and eligible residents throughout Humboldt County and the surrounding region.

Once complete, the center will help address longstanding gaps in behavioral health services, reducing the need for Tribal and community members to travel far from home for treatment by supporting recovery and wellness in the region. The project is supported by a $26 million, California voter-approved Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready award.

“The Yurok community will soon have access to culturally grounded behavioral health care close to home when they need it most,” said Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass. “Without this center, many Tribal and local community members must continue to travel long distances away from their family and support network for care.”

ABOUT THE WAH-SEKW-WON TREATMENT CENTER (YUROK HEALTH AND WELLNESS): Located near Weitchpec, the 26,000-square-foot Wah-Sekw-Won Treatment Center will include:

• 53 inpatient residential treatment beds for men and women.
• Adult residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services.
• Outpatient behavioral health services projected to serve approximately 1,300 people annually.
• Behavioral health counseling and primary care services.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Today’s groundbreaking is more than the start of a building. It is the continuation of our commitment to healing, wellness, and sovereignty,” said Dr. Jacqueline Bae, Director of Health Services, Yurok Tribe (Yurok Health and Wellness Center). “The Wah-Sekw-Won Treatment Center will provide culturally grounded care that honors the strength, resilience, and traditions of the Yurok people. This investment will save lives, strengthen families, and uplift our entire region for generations to come.”

“We are meticulously planning every aspect of this effort to provide high-quality, culturally centered health care services that help individuals restore balance to their lives,” said Chairman of the Yurok Tribe Joseph L. James. “This facility will provide a broad range of supportive care services as part of an expanding, sovereign, community-driven behavioral health system.” 

“I want to express sincere gratitude to Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Health and Human Services Agency, and the Department of Health Care Services for their strong commitment to advancing health care access and outcomes in Tribal communities,” said Yurok Tribe Vice Chair Rose Sylvia.

“We fully support the Yurok Tribe’s vision to construct and operate a Tribal wellness center,” said Connie Beck, Director of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services. “This project will bring lasting, positive changes to the region.”

WHY THIS MATTERS: More than 1.2 million adults in California live with a serious mental illness, and 1 in 10 residents meet the criteria for a SUD. Persistent shortages of treatment facilities contribute to rising rates of homelessness and incarceration among people with behavioral health needs. Investments like the Wah-Sekw-Won Treatment Center (Yurok Health and Wellness) help fill these gaps. The project will also support local job creation by expanding the behavioral health workforce in the region, contributing to long-term community stability.

BIG PICTURE: This project is one of 177 statewide, funded through Bond BHCIP resources to support both immediate needs and long-term behavioral health. Administered by DHCS, Bond BHCIP helps communities build, acquire, and expand crisis, residential, and outpatient treatment facilities. To date, the program has supported 333 facilities, adding 6,919 new residential and inpatient beds and 27,561 outpatient treatment slots statewide, surpassing statewide goals just two years after passage. Since 2021, BHCIP has awarded $5.8 billion to strengthen behavioral health care access.

The Yurok Tribe also received awards through BHCIP Round 1: Crisis Care and Mobile Units ($200,000), BHCIP Round 2: Planning Grants ($150,000), nearly $8 million through BHCIP Round 4: Children and Youth, and $12 million through Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs to further strengthen the Tribe’s behavioral health infrastructure. The Yurok Youth Center, which broke ground in April 2026, will develop four facilities dedicated to behavioral health services for children and youth, expanding outpatient behavioral health capacity and increasing access to care for thousands of individuals annually.

Backed by strong community partnerships, statewide investments, and new policies, California continues building a comprehensive, equitable behavioral health system that ensures people can access prevention, crisis support, treatment, and long-term recovery services.

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