County Grants $18M for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Alameda County announced last Thursday that it has teamed up with three local non-profit organizations to add 69 beds for adults and youth with serious mental illness and substance abuse issues.
In a deal totaling $18 million, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (ACBH) said it would be working with La Familia, Telecare Corporation, and Seneca Family of Agencies to expand services into Oakland’s Fruitvale district, East Oakland, and South Hayward. The goal is to help communities of color, justice-involved individuals, and adults who are at risk of, or are experiencing a mental health crisis.
“These awards are an excellent reflection of how Alameda County is working with partners across the behavioral health spectrum of care to provide compassionate and culturally-sensitive services,” said Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Director, Colleen Chawla.
Chawla said the partners would be establishing four projects funded by California's Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP).
La Familia's Crisis Center in South Hayward is expected to serve individuals 18 years and older who are at risk of or experiencing a mental health crisis. The site is intended to provide a safe space to support their recovery. It is expected to serve approximately 5,700 individuals per year.
La Familia’s other project is a 24/7 facility for young adults ages 18-25. Called the TAY (Transition Aged Youth) Wellness Campus, the center is in Oakland’s Fruitvale and is expected to serve approximately 700 individuals who typically stay 6 months to treat and address mental health, substance use, and criminal behavior. An additional 300 individuals are served in the Campus's outpatient services every year.
Telecare Corporation’s treatment project offers a home-like setting with mental health services for up to 30 days and is expected to serve approximately 660 individuals annually.
Seneca Family of Agencies' project is expected to convert one of the three existing structures on its Golf Links Road campus and turn them into a highly individualized program that will have the capacity to serve up to 6 youth at a time, ages 6-20, with up to 312 youth served annually.
The initiatives are a part of California’s $518.5 million response in grants to help provide behavioral health services and housing options as part of a $2.2 billion statewide effort to expand mental health housing and services, especially for people experiencing homelessness.
