BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

In September 2022, the WSCCOG convened a special board meeting and invited Be Well OC to share about their behavioral health programs and approaches in Orange County. WSCCOG board members and staff unanimously expressed their support to further explore this initiative. In 2022, the City of Santa Monica contracted with Initium Health, and later with Capstone Solutions Consulting Group (Capstone), to assess the gaps in adult intensive behavioral health services (i.e., intensive outpatient treatment, substance use disorder (SUD) residential treatment, crisis services, intensive treatment services) in Santa Monica and across Service Planning Area (SPA) 5. In its final report “The Strengthening the System of Intensive Behavioral Healthcare Services for Adults in Santa Monica and Service Planning Area 5” (click here for more information), Capstone identified services that do not exist in SPA 5, services that exist but with insufficient capacity, and recommendations to expand adult intensive behavioral health services.

Santa Monica is currently collaborating with the WSCCOG to develop a regional behavioral health services strategic roadmap that would serve all adults, including people experiencing homelessness, and include crisis and step-down services. In December 2024, the WSCCOG Board authorized staff to draft a Request for Proposal (RFP) for technical consultant services to build on the findings of Capstone’s study.

For more information, please contact Ana Cuevas-Flores at ana@estolanoadvisors.com.

Updated April 30, 2025