The fight against substance abuse in Santa Clara County is gearing up with a suite of expanded services targeting the local substance use crisis. Through its Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) and Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH), the County has laid out plans for new inpatient, residential, and outpatient interventions that will bolster the support for thousands of its most vulnerable residents. This was reported before a detailed presentation slated for November 5 at the next Board of Supervisors meeting.
In a press release published today, as per County of Santa Clara, Supervisor Susan Ellenberg remarked, "Substance use disorders can be one of the biggest challenges that anyone, individuals, families or communities, can face and this expansion of services will help ease that burden for everyone", a sentiment that echoes the county's resolve as it seeks to double the number of individuals receiving substance use treatment by 2030, aiming to serve an aspirational 20,000 individuals annually compared to the current 10,000.
The cornerstone of the expansion is establishing the new COMPassionate Addiction Services & Support (COMPASS) Clinic, which will begin operations out of the Valley Health Center (VHC) Moorpark in Spring 2025 and expects to serve roughly 1,500 patients yearly. As detailed on the official County of Santa Clara news site, the clinic will provide same-day walk-in and telehealth access for patients and medications for addiction treatment (MAT) and will liaise closely with various healthcare institutions to maintain a comprehensive recovery process for individuals grappling with addiction.
Dr. Cheryl Ho, the County's Substance Use Treatment Services Medical Director, assured the public of the clinic's potential impact, saying via the County of Santa Clara news site, "The opening of the new COMPASS clinic will be a terrific addition to the County’s capacity for the care of people with substance use disorders." Beyond the clinic, additional efforts are being made; this includes new contracts with various service providers aimed at enhancing outpatient services and residential treatment options, demonstrated by a partnership with Recover Medical Group for outpatient care and Our Common Ground, Inc. for additional residential beds, taking the count up by an outstanding 194 since 2022 and another 227 beds on the way toward a 50% system capacity increase by 2030.
Expanding services to the unhoused population is also a key focus, with the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program bolstering its mobile outreach and BHSD initiating pilots at shelters and re-entry centers across the county. BHSD Director Sherri Terao underscored the comprehensive nature of these expansions. According to the County of Santa Clara, "These programs expand and enhance the County’s network of behavioral health services for our most vulnerable residents." As part of the growing network aiming to deliver seamless care, these initiatives are positioned to decrease emergency room visits, lower jail encounters, and uplift long-term recovery prospects for patients, profoundly bettering health outcomes and overall quality of life, as expressed by Paul E. Lorenz, CEO of Santa Clara Valley Health Care.
