Stockton, CA – Earlier this week, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development announced a first ever “Treatment First” toolkit to address addiction and homelessness. National experts, including San Joaquin County Health Care Services (SJCHCS) Director, Genevieve Valentine, were among 40 experts nationwide to help develop the Best Practices Toolkit: Addressing Homelessness and Addiction through “Treatment First.”

The White House toolkit is a national resource designed to guide communities in implementing effective treatment-focused strategies for individuals experiencing both homelessness and severe addiction. According to the ONDCP press release, 75% of homeless Americans are addicted to drugs, while 78% suffer from mental illness. The County’s BeWell Campus is highlighted in the toolkit as a featured program, showcasing San Joaquin’s integrated approach to addiction, behavioral health, and homelessness on the national stage.

“As a contributor to the Treatment First framework, I believe we must move beyond simply measuring whether someone has been housed and instead ask whether we are helping people achieve lasting recovery,” said Genevieve Valentine, Director, San Joaquin County Health Care Services Agency (SJCHCS). “For individuals experiencing serious addiction and homelessness, treatment, recovery support, accountability, and housing must work together to create a pathway toward sustained recovery, self-sufficiency, and community reintegration. Prioritizing treatment gives us a chance to restore hope, establish meaningful expectations, and help people move from homelessness and addiction toward a stable and independent life.”

The toolkit will guide internal and external San Joaquin County providers who work in the homelessness and housing space. It will apply to the County clinics (SJ Health) and substance use disorder providers like St. Joseph’s Behavioral Health Center and Community Medical Centers, to name a few. The toolkit aligns with the Federal Administration’s core principals and priorities that are increasingly tied to current and future Federal funding. The County’s ability to inform how Federal policies will be implemented at the local level demonstrates the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships.

Earlier this year, SJCHCS Director Genevieve Valentine was invited to participate in the “Best Practices for Addiction Treatment in Homelessness Summit” in Washington, D.C.—a national convening of Federal leaders, subject matter experts, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience. The summit, hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, was established to create a national framework for addressing addiction and mental illness among individuals experiencing homelessness.

Director Valentine represented San Joaquin County as one of a small number of leaders nationwide invited to contribute to the development of this framework, highlighting the County’s integrated care model and its commitment to evidence-based, recovery-centered solutions. Her participation reinforced the Board of Supervisors’ continued investment in innovative approaches to homelessness and behavioral health, as well as the County’s growing national role in shaping best practices.

“At its core, the SJ BeWell campus is about giving people the chance to reclaim their lives with dignity. Families, neighborhoods, and entire communities feel the impact when addiction and homelessness go untreated, and it is our responsibility to support solutions that are both compassionate and fiscally responsible,” said Chair Sonny Dhaliwal, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. “We have led the way by pairing housing with meaningful care, accountability, and recovery supports. This ensures we are not just spending resources but investing them wisely in approaches that help individuals find stability, protect public safety, and strengthen the fabric of our community.”

The newly released toolkit reflects the culmination of this national work. With its inclusion of the BeWell Campus and acknowledgment of Director Valentine’s contributions, San Joaquin County’s leadership is helping shape the future of treatment-focused strategies nationwide.

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