The City of Bakersfield is pleased to announce a $22.8 million Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) grant from the State of California to address substance abuse in Bakersfield and Kern County.
This is the largest grant the City of Bakersfield has received from the state in at least the last decade.
Statement
Thanks to this grant, the City and County will establish a 65-bed substance use treatment facility for adults and perinatal women.
More than two million children in the United States live with a parent suffering from an illicit substance use disorder. On average, 110 individuals a month are assessed to need a residential level of substance use treatment in Kern County. The existing 109 residential beds available in Kern County remain occupied for 30 to 60 days at a time, creating delays in admissions.
“We cannot stand by while many of our families are severely hurt by the nation’s opioid crisis,” Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh said. “Thank you to the State of California for the investment and Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for this unprecedented partnership to expand access to residential in-patient substance use treatment.”
The much-needed facility is planned to be located at 2310 Wible Road. The City will pay for maintenance of the facility using opioid settlement dollars. The Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department will fund and manage services and operations.