The Will to Heal: Build

Off-screen: I think California in general has had a lot of problems in terms of health care supply demand for a long time, and then post-covid we saw a major issue with lack of infrastructure for behavioral health in California as this population exploded.

Thomas Freese: I think that California’s done a really good job in beginning to identify the gaps that we’ve had in services, and say, “We have a big problem, and we need to put some big money toward developing the resources, developing the workforce, and developing the systems in order to be able to address that adequately.”

Marlies Perez: Because this system has been built on the kindness of providers and their passion, which is fantastic, but this is the first time we’ve invested like this into the system.

Mark Faucette: So, BHCIP was created out of a needs assessment that was done looking at all these facilities throughout the state, getting data back–who are we missing? What populations are we missing? And how can we better serve them and how can we open up more capacity? BHCIP is all about expanding capacity.

Camila Chavez: To really reach those who are having challenges in accessing services.

Dolores Huerta: And we have seen disastrous consequences when people that have mental health issues when those issues are not addressed.

Off-screen: We need more units. We need more housing. This is the missing piece.

Brandon Fernandez: If you don’t have the capacity infrastructure–specifically things like beds, outpatient clinics–you just can’t treat individuals, right?

Mark Valentino: And this program allows from independent living all the way through acute care settings to invest and to build and to have a place for these people to go. Because we are building a new health system for those suffering from mental health and it’s never been done before.

Off-screen: And to make sure that it’s done with quality and it’s done with care and it’s done with prevailing wage projects. I mean these are not easy efforts, but the feedback is just overwhelming from the community, and the feedback is overwhelming because it’s needed so much.

Al Ballesteros: This facility which we are going to construct here in Skid Row to meet the needs of thousands of our patients would not be possible if this funding were not put in place by the State of California by the governor.

Mark Valentino: As part of the infrastructure grant from the State of California we will be building a brand new building in West Covina, California, which will be for inpatient psychiatric care.

Camila Chavez: The Dolores Huerta Foundation received a BHCIP grant of over $3 million to construct the Dolores Huerta Peace and Justice Cultural Center and our focus is specifically on behavioral health.

Brandon Fernandez: As you can see, we are really excited to get started. This is a turnkey operation that we were able to acquire just 5 days ago. This is an approximately 27,000 square foot facility composed of two distinct buildings. One is a residential facility with 78 beds, and a two-story office building where we’ll be providing a sobering center and intensive outpatient drug and alcohol treatment services.

Jonathan Porteus: We received just under $16 million and all of that will be expended here at this community wellness campus.

Mark Faucette: This is historic. I mean this has never happened. I’ve worked in government and nonprofits for over 30 years in my career, and there’s never been an opportunity like this to build capacity in this kind of way.

Marlies Perez: These are things that are going to be truly lasting, and so when the day is done, in 20 years from now, there will actually be these physical structures that build out that access.

Jonathan Porteus: We believe in human potential. We believe in a person’s ability to be, you know, anything they want to be, but they need support.

Dolores Huerta: We want to reach out and talk to as many, many people as we can and say, “Look, this is not an isolated issue. This is an issue that affects every single one of us.”

Gregory Polk: I think people are trying to finally see that, you know, we are being recognized as a community that needs help, and I think the state is saying, “Hey! We’re here to help you.” And so hopefully that will bring hope to the people of this community.

Laura Juarex Kymanchi: Oh my goodness this grant is just so exciting. It’s going to help do so much here with our community. We’ll be able to help them, because that’s something that’s desperately needed.