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Committee receives behavioral health facilities update; supervisors ask for coordinated community messaging and list potential bed increases
Summary
The committee received an update on behavioral health facility expansion, discussed Prop 1/BHCIP and CHFA grant applications, and approved a motion directing departments to coordinate communications with the county’s Office of Public Affairs; staff provided potential bed counts if state applications are successful.
The Finance and Government Operations Committee on Jan. 22 heard a progress report from the Facilities and Fleet Department and Behavioral Health Services on the county’s behavioral health facility expansion efforts and directed departments to coordinate communications with the Office of Public Affairs (OPA).
Kealey, Deputy County Executive, and David Barry of Facilities and Fleet presented the update and said the report covered three applications submitted in December to the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) and an update on a California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) community services infrastructure grant referenced by IGR earlier in the meeting. Committee members said they had asked for monthly updates to keep expansion efforts visible and accountable, and they pressed staff on how to portray impacts beyond simple bed counts.
Staff provided the approximate bed increases the county would gain if all state applications were successful: 36 beds at the Morgan Hill skilled nursing facility (18 of those identified as special treatment program beds); about 57 subacute beds tied to the redevelopment of 101 Jose Figueroa; and about 32 substance‑use residential beds at 264 North Morrison. Staff said awards are not yet final and that the county expects to hear results in the spring (staff referenced May). A committee member asked for SB 43 progress to be included in the county’s February quarterly report; staff said they intend to include an SB 43 update in the February report. Committee members also discussed a separately operated Pathways Society 30‑bed project that has fallen behind schedule; staff said the county contracts with Pathways Society for beds when utilized but the property development and construction are managed by that organization.
Supervisor Ellenberg moved to receive the report with direction that Facilities and Fleet, Behavioral Health Services, and other appropriate departments coordinate with OPA to finalize messaging that communicates county progress on adding beds and services for serious mental illness and substance‑use disorders in alignment with the county’s public health crisis declaration. The motion passed on roll call.
Why it matters: The county is pursuing multiple state funding sources to expand inpatient and residential behavioral health capacity. Supervisors emphasized early, consistent community engagement and a single county narrative to avoid misinformation and public concern when sites move toward operation.
