Behavioral health services, such as these temporary shelters for the unhoused, are already established at the Los Guilicos campus. (Facebook)
Sonoma County got a boost to its behavioral-health services this week through a pair of state grants totaling $29.5 million.
The county was awarded $18.25 million from the state Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program to support, among other programs, the creation of a children’s crisis residential program and an adolescent residential substance use disorder treatment facility in Sonoma Valley.
Meanwhile, the county is also set to receive $11.25 million from the state Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program to house homeless individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.
Tina Rivera, director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, applauded the infusion of funds into the county’s behavioral programs.
“With these grants, we will be able to provide residential and outpatient behavioral health treatment services to our youth population as well as providing treatment and recovery services for homeless individuals,” said Rivera in an announcement of the grant awards.
The $18.25 million grant will allow the county to provide a variety of services including intensive outpatient treatment for youth, young adults and their families, said county officials. Among them are plans to open a children’s crisis residential program and an adolescent residential substance use disorder treatment facility that could serve up to 600 kids and families a year. The 2-acre, 14-bed facility will be located at the county’s Los Guilicos campus east of Kenwood.
The $11.25 million grant, meanwhile, will go toward mental health and substance use services, as well as housing support for participants of the state Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court. The funding will also provide behavioral health services and support for homeless individuals as well as those exiting jails and hospitals, providing treatment and recovery services for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders.
For more information, visit sonomacounty.ca.gov.
