$12,361,918 million for Humboldt County, Mad River Hospital, CalPoly Humboldt and City of Arcata project

(Photo: Be Well OC campus website)

State officials announced today the award of $12,361,918 million in a unique partnership between Humboldt County Behavioral Health, Mad River Community Hospital, Cal Poly Humboldt and the City of Arcata. The funding will be used to build a Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center. 

Inspired by the Be Well OC campus facility in Orange County, and driven by the need for mental health crisis triage services in Humboldt County, the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center will include a sobering center, mental health care and crisis stabilization. The facility will serve all people and all ages, regardless of insurance, with stays ranging from less than 24 hours to 90 days. 

Mad River Community Hospital donated land to the project, while the county allocated funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, and a grant was received from the County Medical Services Program. Additional funding will be needed to complete the project.   

Mad River Community Hospital Chief Executive and Chief Nursing Officer David Neal said, “We are so excited to partner with the city, the county and the community to build a place where healing and hope begin. We’re proud that this project will benefit the community for decades to come.”

“Most importantly, the facility will offer the opportunity for individuals and families in crisis to receive prompt care in an environment built for privacy, healing and dignity,” said Humboldt County Behavioral Health Director Emi Botzler-Rodgers.

Connie Stewart, Director of Initiatives for Cal Poly Humboldt, said, “I would like to thank the County of Humboldt Board and staff and Mad River Community Hospital for coming up with a comprehensive, integrated project to help families in our community that are in crisis. This is just the beginning and there will be lots of opportunities for the community to engage as we work to make this vision become a reality.” 

Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer noted that the community has been asking for a facility like this for a very long time. “The City of Arcata is so proud to be a part of the solution,” she said.  

DHHS Director Connie Beck said she was grateful to the state and to local representatives State Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood. “This is a big deal for Humboldt. We’re so grateful to our Board and our partners for the hard work that has gone into this. This project will mean so much to our community,” she said. 

The team aims to open the Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center at the end of 2026.