ESCONDIDO — A new 120-bed psychiatric hospital is planned to open in Escondido using $50 million in state funding awarded under the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program.
The Palomar Health Behavioral Health Institute will include dedicated detoxification and withdrawal management beds and an outpatient program expected to serve around 20,000 individuals annually.
The funding for Palomar Health was part of a $3.3 billion funding package issued in the first round of BHCIP funds under Proposition 1. Passed by voters last year, the proposition authorized a $6.38 billion general obligation bond to fund behavioral health and substance use treatment beds and housing.
“This is the largest grant ever received by Palomar Health — and the single largest Bond BHCIP Round 1 awarded in the entire San Diego region,” said Palomar Health Foundation President and CEO Kristin Gaspar. “It marks a transformational milestone for our community, one that will create lasting change for thousands of individuals and families. We are honored to play a leading role in advancing solutions that address our region’s most pressing behavioral health needs.”
Other San Diego County nonprofits that received multimillion-dollar BHCIP grants for behavioral health projects are Epidaurus Amity Foundation, Casa de Amparo, Inner Tribal Wellness, and the McAlister Institute for Treatment and Education, Inc., in addition to the County of San Diego.
The 84,700-square-foot Behavioral Health Institute is expected to open in 2027, according to Palomar Health Foundation. It will be located just south of Palomar Health Medical Center Escondido along Citracado Parkway.
California is currently facing an estimated shortage of around 7,000 behavioral health beds, leading to long wait times for individuals in need of treatment, according to the Governor’s Office.
BHCIP funds are expected to create a total of 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots, with a focus on individuals experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use issues.
Around $2 billion in BHCIP funds will be used for permanent supportive housing for veterans and other people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are experiencing mental health issues and addiction.
