San Joaquin County announced on March 16, 2026, that it had received $38,230,841 from the California Department of Health Care Services through the Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2: Unmet Needs.
The money is earmarked for construction of a 52-bed regional Social Rehabilitation Facility with an integrated Community Outpatient Center, according to the county's announcement. The county said the facility is designed to serve six Central Valley counties as part of a regional behavioral health continuum, and that construction of this phase — Phase 2 of the county's SJ BeWell Campus project — is projected for completion by June 30, 2030.
The Grant, By the Numbers
- Award: $38,230,841
- Funding source: California Department of Health Care Services, Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2: Unmet Needs
- Facility: 52-bed regional Social Rehabilitation Facility with integrated Community Outpatient Center
- Service area: Six Central Valley counties
- Projected completion: June 30, 2030 (Phase 2 of the SJ BeWell Campus)
What County Officials Said
Announcing the award, Board of Supervisors Chair Sonny Dhaliwal called the project transformative for the region. "This project is transformative for our region. Expanding treatment capacity and strengthening cross county partnerships ensures people can access coordinated, compassionate care for generations," Dhaliwal said, according to the county's announcement.
Health Care Services Director Genevieve Valentine echoed that framing. "This award strengthens one of our region's most transformative behavioral health initiatives. By expanding our continuum of care, we can provide coordinated, compassionate services that support recovery and improve lives across the Central Valley." Valentine said.
District Four Supervisor Steve Ding tied the funding to the county's homelessness response. "To fix homelessness, we have to address its roots. This funding expands real treatment options-more beds, more services, and more chances for people to get off the streets and rebuild," Ding said.
Part of a Larger Campus Buildout
The county's announcement described the $38.2 million as funding for Phase 2 of the campus, distinct from Phase 1, which the county said is already under construction and funded by a previous $137.5 million BHCIP Prop One Round One award, $11.6 million in BHCIP Round 5 funding, opioid settlement funds, and local county investment. Phase 1 is projected to bring more than 140 new beds and a broad array of acute and subacute behavioral health services online in 2027.
What's Not Yet Known
The county's March 2026 announcement did not include a detailed construction budget breakdown, a groundbreaking date for Phase 2, or a specific accounting of how the $38.2 million fits within the total projected cost of the campus. DFP has not independently verified the county's total spending on the SJ BeWell project across all funding phases and will continue to track construction progress and Board of Supervisors budget actions related to the campus.
DFP's Public Health Coverage
Dismal Freedom Press tracks San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors actions on public health and behavioral health funding, including state grant awards, budget hearings, and construction milestones for county health infrastructure projects.