California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has awarded the Alameda Health System (AHS) more than $77 million from the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), funded through Proposition 1.
AHS will use the funding to build a 10-bed inpatient medical detox and psychiatric care unit at San Leandro Hospital and two 20-bed units dedicated to geriatric psychiatric patients at St. Rose Hospital.
“This is a transformative investment for Alameda Health System and the East Bay community.” said AHS Chief Operating Officer Mark Fratzke, who also serves as Board Chair at St. Rose Hospital. “It strengthens our ability to care for those in the most vulnerable moments of their lives and ensures that people can get the mental and behavioral health care they need close to home.”
Fratzke added that AHS is “proud to be recognized as a critical component of California’s efforts to modernize and expand mental and behavioral health care. This funding will advance our mission of caring, healing, teaching, and serving all.”
Mental and behavioral health is among the top five priority health needs in Alameda County, according to Alameda County Health Care Service’s 2022-2025 Community Health Needs Assessment. This grant will enable AHS to fill a critical care gap and expand capacity to serve patients with complex behavioral health needs, according to a statement issued by the health system.
AHS is among 124 sponsor organizations that have been awarded a total of $3.3 billion in competitive funding awards for projects that support behavioral health infrastructure through the DHCS Proposition 1 Bond BHCIP Round 1.
The Bond BHCIP Round 1 awards are designed to help create a comprehensive behavioral health system in California, ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time, for crisis stabilization, inpatient care, or long-term treatment. As part of the state’s goal to reduce mental health crises, increase the availability of services, and support community-based solutions, these investments are vital in ensuring the long-term sustainability and accessibility of behavioral health services, the AHS statement noted.
Alameda Health System is a leading safety-net, integrated health care provider and medical training institution that provides comprehensive medical treatment, health promotion, and disease prevention throughout its network of hospitals, clinics and health services. AHS includes three acute care hospitals, an affiliate acute care hospital, a psychiatric hospital, four ambulatory care wellness centers, five post-acute facilities, and the only adult Level 1 Trauma Center and psychiatric emergency department in Alameda County. For more information, visit the Alameda Health System website.
