SALINAS — The Monterey County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau is seeking community input on a proposed project to build six new mental health rehabilitation centers in Salinas.
Behavioral Health staff will be hosting two more listening sessions (the first was Thursday) to share information and hear community feedback on the project. The sessions will be held Monday at 6 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Natividad Medical Center.
The project plans to build six new 16-bed mental health rehabilitation centers in Salinas on a currently undeveloped lot owned by the county. The lot is located across Constitution Boulevard from the Salinas Regional Sports Complex, adjacent to Natividad Medical Center.
The centers will expand local treatment opportunities for adults with serious mental illness and those with co-occurring substance use disorders under Mental Health Conservatorships, a legal arrangement for those deemed unable to provide for their own basic needs.
Currently, Monterey County has no facilities offering this level of care, said Melanie Rhodes of Monterey County Behavioral Health.
“This means that we have to refer folks out of the county and across the state for higher levels of care placement which creates a challenge for their families to visit them and maintain connection,” Rhodes said.
The centers will “provide 24-hour intensive support and rehabilitative services in a secure therapeutic setting to help residents regain stability and develop independent living skills with the goal of successfully transitioning back into their community,” said Rhodes.
According to Rhodes, Behavioral Health staff have already been engaging with the community, emailing out fact sheets about the proposed centers and going door-to-door in surrounding neighborhoods.
“We’ve got a range of feedback,” said Rhodes. “We’ve heard from some folks who are very supportive. We have heard from some folks who are also very concerned because it’s right behind their homes.”
Rhodes stressed that the facilities will be secure and encouraged those with questions to join the listening sessions.
“We want to share with the community and get their feedback on it because (the facility) is not set up to be an institutional type facility but more fit within the community, a therapeutic, warm welcoming treatment space,” Rhodes said.
To find out how to attend one of the listening sessions, visit: https://calendar.countyofmonterey.gov/lists/2155