A $261 million campus dedicated to substance abuse is expected to take another step forward at today’s San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors’ meeting.
The board is being asked to approve a map and specific plan for the 23 acre endeavor planned on the northwest corner of West Hospital Road and South El Dorado Street in French Camp.
San Joaquin County identified a significant need for a campus that focuses on substance abuse care. The complex would have 426 beds.
Local data shows that more than 60% of those brought to emergency departments by law enforcement or ambulance was due to an acute substance use disorder.
Diverting individuals from emergency rooms to a campus that includes a variety of services — point of entry, crisis stabilization unit, sobering center, detox, residential facility, and follow-up care — will allow for prevention and client centered care.
Equally important, it will take pressure off of emergency rooms throughout the county.
The project will include two campuses.
The South Campus will have 211,250 square feet and 174 beds.
It includes a 32,500 square foot urgent care services building with 42 beds, a 76,000 square foot community and outpatient services building, and two 50,000 square-foot residential treatment program buildings with a combined 132 beds.
The North Campus will have 150,360 square feet and 252 beds with 10 transitional housing buildings.
It will include a 99,000 square-foot building with 178 beds, a 36,000 square foot building with 42 beds, and eight 1,920 square foot buildings with a combined total of 32 beds.
A New Model of Care
for San Joaquin County
Located on 23 acres of County-owned land in French Camp near San Joaquin General Hospital, the Be Well Campus will offer a full continuum of services, including:
*Crisis stabilization
*Detox and sobriety centers
*Youth and family outpatient services
*Substance use treatment
This will be the first facility in the region to consolidate such comprehensive services under one roof — improving access, reducing stigma, and helping residents avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or incarceration.
“Sixty percent of emergency room visits in our County are tied to acute substance use disorder,” said Genevieve Valentine, Director of the San Joaquin County Health Care Services Agency. “This project allows us to deliver the right care, at the right time, in the right setting — for everyone in our community.”
Construction is expected to begin later this year, following environmental review and final permitting. The first phase of the campus is scheduled for substantial completion by July 2027.
To fund this transformational project, the County is leveraging a mix of local, state, federal, and private sources. Key funding includes:
*National Opioid Settlement Funds
*Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 5
*Assembly Bill 179 (Budget Act of 2022)
*Health Plan of San Joaquin
^Public health allocations secured by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein
*Private sector match funds
To date, $66.29 million has been secured, with an additional $232 million identified through pending grants and local partnerships.
The Be Well Campus reflects the Board's commitment to addressing the County's behavioral health crisis through long-term investment, cross-sector collaboration, and equity-driven service delivery.
