Construction Of County’s First Mental Health Rehabilitation Center Underway In Richmond

From Contra Costa Health:

County Begins Construction of the First Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in Contra Costa
Contra Costa County broke ground today on a new 45-bed facility in Richmond that will expand local long-term behavioral health treatment capacity for residents with serious mental illness.

The project will renovate and repurpose an existing one-story county-owned building on the Brookside Shelter campus into a mental health rehabilitation center — the first facility of its kind in Contra Costa County. The new Contra Costa Recovery Center will provide longer-term treatment and stabilization services in a secure residential setting for adults recovering from severe psychiatric conditions.

Mental health rehabilitation centers provide sub-acute treatment services for people who require longer-term stabilization following stays in acute care hospitals, state hospitals or detention settings. They are secure, locked facilities designed for clients who are conserved and need intensive support as part of their recovery process.

The Recovery Center is expected to open in June 2027 and will offer county residents a nearby option in Contra Costa for such care. Currently, residents are placed in similar facilities in other counties.

“This project represents a significant step forward in strengthening our local behavioral health system and ensuring residents can receive specialized care closer to home,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, CEO of Contra Costa Health.

The approximately 20,000-square-foot facility will undergo a full interior remodel to provide 24/7 care and rehabilitation services for eligible adults living with serious mental illness. The renovated building will include client care suites and sleeping rooms, medical and wellness spaces and an outdoor recreation area.

The project is being funded with an $18.6 million grant from the California Department of Health Care Services through its Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP). As part of the state funding agreement, the County met the required 10% match through equity in the property and committed to operating the facility for behavioral health purposes for at least 30 years.

“This investment reflects Contra Costa County’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to compassionate, high-quality behavioral health care,” said Supervisor John Gioia, who represents the West County district where the facility is located. “By creating local treatment capacity, we can better support some of our most vulnerable residents and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and the broader community.”

This Recovery Center is one of four BHCIP-funded projects in Contra Costa under development offering various levels of support for people dealing with mental illness or substance use disorders. The others, which have yet to start construction, will be located in Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg and Antioch. These projects were identified during a comprehensive 2022 needs assessment done with the goals of building local behavioral health capacity and providing equitable service.