STATE AND PATHWAY SOCIETY BREAK GROUND ON SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT CENTER

SACRAMENTO — On July 18, 2024, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Pathway Society, Inc. broke ground on a new facility that will bridge critical gaps in mental health and substance use disorder treatment. This adult residential treatment facility will provide withdrawal management services to Medi-Cal members and people experiencing homelessness or who have been involved in the justice system.

DHCS awarded Pathway Society more than $6.4 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), which works to ensure comprehensive behavioral health care for California's most vulnerable residents. With the recently approved Proposition 1 bonds, in 2025 and 2026, even more behavioral health treatment facilities will be funded and built.
 
Just yesterday, DHCS announced the availability of up to $3.3 billion in funding to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

“California is committed to bridging gaps in behavioral health treatment services," said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “We are honored to work with partners like Pathway Society to bring vital withdrawal management services to people in need."

“We are grateful for this opportunity to expand sorely needed capacity and new treatment opportunities for those in need of substance use services," said Gary Montrezza, Chief Executive Officer for Pathway Society. “Our new facility will fill a critical need today and create a lasting legacy of treatment and healing for the future."

PATHWAY SOCIETY: Pathway Society provides several levels of care on the behavioral health continuum for Medi-Cal members, homeless individuals, and justice-involved adults in Santa Clara County. Services include withdrawal management, Medications for Addiction Treatment, incidental medical services, and both residential and intensive outpatient treatment for individuals with substance use disorders.

The new facility to be built using BHCIP funds, called the Pathway for Compassionate Detoxification, will expand withdrawal management bed capacity by 14, bringing the total bed capacity to 86. The program will provide screenings with a counselor, consultations with a medical provider or clinician, motivational interviews, treatment assessments, and individual and group counseling sessions as part of the recovery process.

WHY BHCIP IS IMPORTANT: Through BHCIP, DHCS awards eligible entities funding to construct, acquire, and expand properties and invest in mobile crisis infrastructure to further expand the range of community-based behavioral health treatment options for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. BHCIP is addressing historic gaps in the behavioral health care system to meet the growing demand for services and support throughout the lifespan of people in need. Pathway Society received BHCIP Round 5: Crisis and Behavioral Health Continuum grant funding.

DHCS has already competitively awarded $1.7 billion in BHCIP grants. In addition, DHCS will distribute up to $4.4 billion in competitive BHCIP grants under Proposition 1 bond funds. Behavioral Health Transformation is DHCS' work to implement Proposition 1. DHCS holds regular public listening sessions. Updates and recordings of the sessions are available on the Behavioral Health Transformation webpage.
 
ABOUT BHCIP ROUND 5: CRISIS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUUM: BHCIP Round 5: Crisis and Behavioral Health Continuum was developed, in part, through a statewide needs assessment that identified significant gaps in available crisis services. This assessment showed the need for a better system of crisis care to reduce emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and incarceration. The 33 awards, totaling $430 million, are being used to build and expand crisis care and behavioral health facilities statewide and will serve vulnerable Californians of all ages, including Medi-Cal members. Please see the BHCIP website for more information about grant recipients and additional details about all BHCIP funding rounds.​