Stockton, CA – On Monday, May 12, 2025, San Joaquin County’s Behavioral Health Services announced that it was among 124 award recipients for the California Department of Health Care Services’ Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program. The new funding is part of Proposition 1 and $3.3 billion in State funding to create over 5,000 residential treatment beds for behavioral health care services Statewide.

“Today’s announcement is a huge step forward for the County’s efforts to bring this much needed resource to our residents,” said Genevieve Valentine, LMFT, Director, Health Care Services Agency. “This critical funding allows us to move closer to construction, and ultimately toward opening the Be Well doors for those who need it most. I want to thank DHCS and the State for helping make dreams come true.”

San Joaquin County’s Be Well Campus will be a transformational behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment facility, serving as the cornerstone of a more compassionate, coordinated, and effective behavioral health system in the County.

Located on 23 acres of County-owned land in French Camp near San Joaquin General Hospital, the Be Well Campus will provide 172 beds dedicated to psychiatric health and Substance Use Disorder residential treatment services, including:

• Crisis stabilization
• Detox and sobriety centers
• Youth and family outpatient services
• Substance use treatment
• Integrated Behavioral Health Urgent Care
• Mental Health Rehabilitative Center

“This is a transformational moment for San Joaquin County,” said Paul Canepa, Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. “The Be Well Campus is more than a facility—it’s a commitment to making mental and behavioral health care accessible, compassionate, and dignified for everyone in our community. We are investing in care that treats the whole person, especially our most vulnerable residents, and bringing services closer to home. It’s how we create a healthier, stronger, and more connected San Joaquin County.”

In relation to the impact the project will have on families, Vice Chair Sonny Dhaliwal added, “When a young person experiences a mental health crisis, the last thing a family should have to worry about is whether help is hours away. The Be Well Campus means adolescents can get the support they need without leaving the community. It helps keep families together, especially in their most difficult moments.”

District 1 Supervisor Mario Gardea added, “In Stockton, the need for behavioral health services is urgent and growing. This investment from the State is essential—but it must be just the beginning. Our community deserves a fair share of funding that matches the size of the challenge we face, and this grant works to improve that balance. The Be Well Campus will allow us to meet the needs of our growing communities.”

District 4 Supervisor Steve Ding stated, “This is a big deal for our community. The Be Well Campus means people in Lodi and across the County will finally have access to mental health care nearby—when they need it most. For too long, the system hasn’t worked. Now we’re doing something that will really help. I’ve pushed hard to change the rules and open the door for projects like this. We’re finally moving in the right direction, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

District 5 Supervisor Robert Rickman concluded, “This project stands on the shoulders of years of thoughtful leadership. I want to thank past and present Boards of Supervisors whose vision and planning made today possible. Because of strong financial stewardship, San Joaquin County is able to provide the local match to bring this funding home. The Be Well Campus is a major step forward in how we care for people, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.”

This will be the first facility in the region to consolidate such comprehensive services under one roof—improving access, reducing stigma, and helping residents avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or incarceration. It will also be the first youth substance abuse residential program in the San Joaquin Valley.

Today’s funding announcement builds on the Board’s action in April to approve the project's $261.8 million budget, marking the official launch of the project's first phase, which includes project validation and early design work.

Construction is expected to begin in late September 2025, following environmental review and final permitting. The first phase of the campus is scheduled for substantial completion by July 2027.

To fund this transformational project, the County is leveraging a mix of local, State, Federal, and private sources. Key funding includes:

• National Opioid Settlement Funds
• Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 5
• Assembly Bill 179 (Budget Act of 2022)
• Health Plan of San Joaquin
• Public health allocations secured by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Private sector match funds

With this conditional award, BHS has secured $203.7 million toward the total estimated project cost of $261.8 million with the balance being sought through pending grants and local partnerships.

The County anticipates holding a groundbreaking ceremony later this year to coincide with the start of construction.

###