Crisis Residential Treatment Facility - Opened April 23, 2022

The Crisis Residential Treatment Facility (CRT) is an eight to ten bed, short-term mental health facility designed to serve individuals who are experiencing acute psychiatric crisis and whose adaptive functioning is moderately impaired. CRTs provide short-term, intensive and supportive services in a home-like environment through an active social rehabilitation program that is certified by the California Department of Health Care Services and licensed by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division and are designed to improve the lives and adaptive functioning of those they serve.

Funding is a collaborative effort between Measure B and the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA).

October 2024 Update:

• September ’24: 13 clients served, 178 total bed days
• 2 Duplicated clients.
• 0 Vacancies.
• Success stories: 2 successful program completion. One client returned to family. One client found own housing and began a job and college

Psychiatric Hospital Facility

The Measure B Committee is still reviewing options regarding a Psychiatric Health Facility within Mendocino County.

October 2024 Update: The construction agreement was executed on July 23, 2024, and is expected to be completed within 420 calendar days. The building permit was issued on August 9, 2024, and construction began on August 20, 2024. We anticipate the parking areas to be paved, and the walls and roof will be roughed in the next 90 days.

As the original entrance to the property will be changing from Whitmore Lane to now be accessible from South State Street, the new address for the site of the Psychiatric Health Facility will now be 2840 South State Street.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Midstate Construction Corporation in the amount of $13,300,000 for the construction of the new Psychiatric Health Facility project.

A ground breaking ceremony took place August 2024, the building is estimated to be open and operational by October 2025:

Fort Bragg Crisis Respite

On August 25, 2021, the Mental Health Treatment Act Citizens’ Oversight Committee voted to recommend that Measure B funds be used to contribute to the operations of Crisis Respite Services in the city of Fort Bragg for Coastal Residents. Many stakeholders working in the mental health field have expressed firm commitment to the project, such as the City of Fort Bragg Homeless Ad Hoc Committee, the Fort Bragg Police Department, Adventist Health, Redwood Quality Management Company, and Redwood Community Services (RCS). Adventist Health has proposed to lease a facility to RCS, who has agreed to operate the facility using a similar model as the operation of the Madrone House in Redwood Valley. The proposed program could be open and operational in approximately 6 months.

October 2024 Update: Cypress House served 5 individuals in September, with 90 total bed days, 2 admissions, 3 discharges, and 2 unduplicated clients. 2 individuals were linked to long-term services and temporary housing of which zero were able to transition back to independent living. 1 individual chose to leave the program against medical advice. Madrone House served 12 individuals in the month of August, with 218 total bed days, there were 8 intakes and 5 discharges. 4 unduplicated. 2 individuals were stepped down to CRT, 2 were connected to short-term term transitional housing, and 1 returned to acute psychology.

Approved Program Budget: $240,000 over Four (4) years

Crisis Assessment and Psychiatric Hospitalization Aftercare

Behavioral Health and Recovery Services plans to contract with a community agency to provide follow-up services to all individuals not eligible for county Medi-Cal services being discharged from a psychiatric hospital stay or receiving a crisis (5150) assessment. Services include case management, linkage, medication management, and rehabilitation.

October 2024 Update: Measure B funding continues to provide a pathway for individuals who historically have not had access to crisis after care services reaching parity for non-Medi-Cal recipients.

 Approved Program Budget: $260,000 per year for Four (4) years

Mobile Crisis Response Team Pilot

To develop a mobile crisis response team between law enforcement and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services that responds and provides crisis support, outreach and engagement during emergency responses concerning mental health needs within the community.

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department is working with Mendocino County Sheriffs Office and Ukiah Police Department on developing these teams. Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will be hiring three staff Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist to work with the two Law Enforcement agencies in responding to calls. The agencies are in the process of interviewing for these positions.

October 2024 Update: In September we had three full time dedicated staff and two part time staff responding to mobile crisis 24/7. 24/7/365 implementation went into effect in August 2024. Teams are dispatched via 911 for dual response and by the 1-855-838-0404 Crisis Line answered by RCS using a Department of Health Care Services mandated triage tool to determine level of dispatch. When appropriate to respond without law enforcement or resolve calls via phone, teams will attempt to resolve calls in the least restrictive manner possible.

Approved Program Budget: $340,000 per year for Four (4) years

Community Education, Awareness, and Support

Behavioral Health and Recovery Services plans to contract with a community agency to provide community education and trainings around mental health to law enforcement, physicians, community leaders, and community members to reduce discrimination and stigma. In addition, the contracted agency will assist individuals and families in navigating the community resources and services.

Behavioral Health and Recovery Services has drafted a Request for Proposal that will be released soon.

NAMI continues to hold monthly Native Wellness Collaboration meetings and working on the best way to communicate information out to the public to get involved. A “Meet and Greet” was held on August 9, 2023, in lieu of the monthly Native Wellness Collaboration meeting.

Approved Program Budget: $350,000 per year for Four (4) years

Behavioral Health Regional Training Center

The Behavioral Health Regional Training Center in Redwood Valley nears completion. Education will be geared toward equipping first responders, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and other individuals vested in mental health with skills to detect and handle mental illness more efficiently. 

There are still a few minor items left to finalize. Staff are ironing out the training facility reservation process.

For booking availability and general inquiries, community members are encouraged to contact BHTrainingCenter@mendocinocounty.org

Click here for more BHRTC information.

Mental Health Treatment Act Audit

An auditor has been selected to examine management’s assertion that the entity complied with the expenditure restrictions as described in Chapter 5.180 of the Mendocino County Code entitled the “Mental Health Treatment Act” during each of the periods July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and July 1, 2021, to June 30. Total contract cost $6,000.

The audits for periods 7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020, 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2021, and 7/1/2021 – 6/30/2022 were completed. A copy was provided to the Measure B Committee and was also included in the Measure B June 22nd agenda materials. A Measure B Ad hoc committee has been established to review and make recommendations in regards to the audit.

• 7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020 Audit
• 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2021 Audit