Behavioral health treatment programs hit major milestones, Newsom announces

More than a dozen behavioral health treatment initiatives reached construction and ribbon-cutting milestones as a result of new state funds, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a Tuesday announcement.

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Funding for the 15 projects comes from the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, which aims to expand community-based treatment to reduce homelessness, incarceration and unnecessary hospitalizations among individuals with behavioral health conditions.

BHCIP launched in 2021 with a budget of $2.2 billion. Proposition 1, which passed a statewide vote in March 2024, allowed the state to disburse nearly $6.4 billion in bond funding for behavioral health treatment programs.

Since 2021, BHCIP and Bond BHCIP have awarded a total of $5.8 billion to expand behavioral health resources and infrastructure across the state.

“Every BHCIP project reflects the dedication of local leaders, tribal communities, and partners to strengthen California’s behavioral health system,” said California Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Baass in a statement. “Californians can now access treatment that is more responsive and closer to home, helping them get the care they need when they need it.”

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These funds supported recent groundbreakings at 10 behavioral health treatment centers, including four in rural areas. The program also oversaw the completion of five new programs and community centers, which hosted ribbon-cutting ceremonies this spring.

BHCIP is part of Newsom’s “Mental Health for All” initiative, which aims to strengthen state investment in mental and behavioral health treatment.

“Communities across the state are seeing the results of Proposition 1 and our infrastructure investments,” Newsom said in a statement. “This is what it looks like when we deliver to Californians the mental health care system they deserve, laying the foundation for lasting, statewide change.”

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