NEW SITES OPENING TO BRING VITAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO TEENS AND ADULTS
Behavioral Health Facilities Will Provide 28 New Beds for Substance Use Disorder and Co-Occurring Mental Health Treatment Services
SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is expanding residential services to treat substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health needs at two sites across California. Friends of the Mission hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Walter's House II, which will provide substance use disorder treatment for adults in Yolo County. Aspiranet hosted a groundbreaking for the Central Valley Transition Aged Youth (TAY) Independence Program, which will provide a short-term residential therapeutic program and a substance use disorder outpatient treatment facility for youth ages 15 to 19.
DHCS awarded Friends of the Mission $12.4 million and Aspiranet $8.7 million through the
Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), which is part of California's ongoing commitment to expand behavioral health services for all Californians. With the passage of Proposition 1,
even more behavioral health treatment facilities will be funded and built in 2025 and 2026.
“DHCS is pleased to work with our community partners to expand robust, community-based behavioral health services," said
DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “Facilities like these are a vital component of California's efforts to bring high-quality, holistic mental health and substance use disorder care to rural and underserved communities."
WALTER'S HOUSE II PROJECT: Friends of the Mission's Walter's House II provides care in the most appropriate and least restrictive settings to support community integration, choice, and autonomy while reducing homelessness. Walter's House II currently has 44 residential beds for substance use disorder treatment for adults in Yolo County. The project will provide an additional 16 new beds, for a total bed count of 60. The facility will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week, with qualified staff and clinicians. The program is Drug Medi-Cal approved for low- and high-intensity clinical services, including individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders. The new facility is also designed to support withdrawal management services and medication-assisted treatment.
"At Walter's House II, we believe that every individual deserves a second chance," said
Doug Zeck, Executive Director of Walter's House II. “With the opening of our new residential substance use disorder treatment facility, we are providing a place to heal and creating a community of support and hope. Together, we can empower lives and transform futures."
Ribbon Cutting for Walter's House II
ASPIRANET'S CENTRAL VALLEY TAY INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM: Central Valley TAY Independence Program will be a youth-centered, trauma-informed, individualized, results-oriented project designed specifically to assist system-involved youth between ages 15 to 19. The project will include a short-term residential therapeutic program with 12 new beds and a new substance use disorder outpatient treatment facility that is expected to serve another 60 individuals annually. Outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services will include traditional individual therapy and innovative supports and services, such as contingency management, Full Service Partnerships, mentoring, independent living skills programming, and other wellness resources.
“Aspiranet's vision is to utilize BHCIP funding to re-purpose and expand a facility that will provide much-needed residential and behavioral health services and supports to the region's most vulnerable youth," said
Vernon Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Aspiranet.
Groundbreaking for Central Valley TAY Independence Program
WHY THIS 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 co-occurring mental health treatment needs and substance use disorders. BHCIP is addressing historic gaps in the behavioral health care system to meet the growing demand for services and supports throughout the lifespan of people in need.
DHCS has awarded $1.7 billion in BHCIP competitive grants. In addition, DHCS will distribute up to $4.4 billion in competitive Bond BHCIP funding, including $3.3 billion for Round 1: Launch Ready grants as part of
Behavioral Health Transformation, DHCS' work to implement
Proposition 1. DHCS holds regular public listening sessions on this effort. Updates and recordings of the sessions are available on the
Behavioral Health Transformation webpage.
ABOUT BHCIP ROUND 3: LAUNCH READY: BHCIP Round 3 supported preparation activities to plan for the acquisition and expansion of behavioral health infrastructure throughout the state. The 45 facilities were funded a total of $518.5 million to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate real estate assets to expand the behavioral health continuum of treatment and service resources. BHCIP applicants were required to demonstrate service expansion for Medi-Cal members and have a valid planning process to ensure projects are ready for implementation.
ABOUT BHCIP ROUND 4: CHILDREN AND YOUTH: BHCIP Round 4 focused on children and youth as well as all Californians ages 25 and younger, including pregnant and postpartum women and their children and TAY ages 16-25, along with their families. Through funding made possible by California's
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, the 52 awards totaling $480.5 million allow for new construction and expansion of multiple outpatient and residential facility types, including children's crisis residential programs, perinatal residential substance use disorder facilities, community wellness/youth prevention centers, and outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. For more information, please visit the
BHCIP website.
BIGGER PICTURE: Under Governor Gavin Newsom, California is modernizing the behavioral health delivery system to improve accountability, increase transparency, and expand the capacity of behavioral health care facilities for Californians. Proposition 1, which was passed by voters in May 2024, includes a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services and a historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance use disorders, and housing needs. More information about California's transformation of the state's entire mental health and substance use disorder system can be found at mentalhealth.ca.gov.