Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Awarded $12.6 Million to Expand Resources

Merced County is proud to announce that its Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department has been awarded two major grants through the highly competitive Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Bond Round 1, funded through California's Proposition 1. These awards total $12.6 million and will significantly strengthen the County's behavioral health infrastructure.

Merced County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) received:

• $9.8 million to expand Substance Use Disorder treatment at the Winton Clinic, enabling the clinic to serve more youth and adults who suffer from substance use issues.
• $2.8 million to support the Justice and Community Integration expansion on BHRS' main campus in Merced located on 13^th Street, enhancing services for individuals involved in the justice system.

Merced County Board of Supervisors Chairman Josh Pedrozo said these awards will support the department's broader initiatives to improve service delivery.

"Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is positioned to further expand its mission to support community members in need when and where they need it," Pedrozo said. "This funding allows us to create sustainable, community-based solutions for residents with behavioral health needs."

"These awards are a testament to the incredible work happening every day across our Behavioral Health and Recovery Services teams," said Dr. Kimiko Vang, BHRS Director. "With these new resources, we will greatly increase our capacity to serve residents with substance use disorders and justice system involvement-supporting new state-level initiatives like SB 43, CalAIM Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH), and Prop 36."

These transformative projects are made possible by Proposition 1, passed by California voters in March 2024. Proposition 1 includes two key pieces of legislation: the Behavioral Health Services Act (SB 326) and the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act (AB 531), which together provide $6.38 billion to develop treatment facilities and supportive housing across the state.

As part of this initiative, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) awarded $3.3 billion in Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready grants to 124 sponsors throughout California. Merced County is honored to be among the recipients of this first round, which prioritizes projects that are construction-ready and community-focused.

Planning is already underway for both Merced County projects, which will enhance out-patient and medically assisted treatment options locally. These infrastructure improvements align with California's broader goals to reduce mental health crises, expand access to care, and build a more responsive and inclusive behavioral health system.

For more information on Merced County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, visit the BHRS webpage.