Future of Behavioral Health

Providing access to behavioral health care is a core component in the city’s strategies and Council priorities of both addressing homelessness and maintaining clean and safe public spaces. While behavioral health is one of the Four Pillars of the Council-adopted strategy to address homelessness, both housed and unhoused Santa Monicans alike suffer from significant rates of behavioral health concerns. In response to these unmet needs, the City Council set aside $250,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to advance this priority. 

In 2023, the City contracted with Initium Health (Initium) to conduct a comprehensive behavioral health study (including both mental health and substance use) and asses the feasibility of establishing a behavioral facility. With support from the city, Initium engaged hundreds of stakeholders through Ideas Exchange events, interviews, focus groups and a public survey to highlight what the local community sees as the key priorities and needs related to behavioral health. Initium also conducted a behavioral health center feasibility assessment and identified key considerations related to zoning and land use, infrastructure, geographic accessibility, service proximity, therapeutic environment and financing to inform the future development of a behavioral health center. The city is embarking on the next phase of the project and developing strategies to address the key priorities and needs, and will share updates as they become available.

Therapeutic Transport Team launches Jan. 8

Santa Monica first responders will now have access to a dedicated behavioral health team to better assist individuals in need of mental health care, thanks to a partnership between the city and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

The pilot program, launched Jan. 8, 2024, provides a specialized therapeutic transport team that will be available five days a week to assist Santa Monica Police and Fire personnel with 911 and non-emergency calls for service that involve someone experiencing mental health crisis. The partnership with the Department of Mental Health, or DMH, is part of Santa Monica’s push to collaborate with regional service providers for a coordinated, holistic approach to addressing homelessness.

Read the fact sheetbrochure and press release for more details.