In a decisive move towards strengthening mental health infrastructure, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has thrown its unanimous support behind two motions to improve crisis care for all age groups in the Antelope Valley. The motions, introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, are funneling $47.9 million into new facilities tailored to the needs of children, adolescents, and adults grappling with mental health issues.
A total of three construction projects will emerge from the ground up, helmed by the County's Department of Mental Health. Among them, an adult Crisis Residential Treatment Program (CRTP) will nestle within the High Desert Regional Health Center campus in Lancaster, ushering in the region's first homelike setting for those in acute mental distress. Designed for short-term care, the facility boasts 16 treatment beds and projects serving 275 to 400 clients yearly with a dedicated budget of $21.4 million, as detailed on Kathryn Barger's official county page.
Simultaneously, a new Mental Health Hub is set to significantly augment the current one at the same High Desert campus, increasing its client capacity from 850 to a minimum of 2,650 annually. Ensuring younger demographics aren’t overlooked, a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), with nine beds dedicated to children and youth, will operate round-the-clock. These facilities will accommodate the shifting mental health landscape with budgets of $10.8 million each.
Supervisor Barger underscored the urgent need for such facilities, stating, "Investing in creating these types of local mental health treatment settings creates a continuum of care for those who need it the most and have nowhere to go," as stated by the County of Los Angeles. Her emphasis was on the transformative potential these facilities hold in serving the community, with expectations that these centers will "change and save lives". The development also follows a $3.9 million boost from the state, earmarked for enhancing CSU capacities across L.A. County, signaling recognition of mental health as a priority at multiple government levels.
