ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA – Today, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley joined Be Well OC for the groundbreaking of the new Irvine campus with officials representing the State of California, County of Orange, CalOptima, the City of Irvine, local non-profit hospital partners, and multicultural and multifaith partners. The ceremony was held at the site of the new campus at 7800 Marine Way, Irvine, California.
“The Irvine Be Well campus will serve as a place of hope and healing for many Orange County families grappling with mental health crises,” said Supervisor Katrina Foley. “This state-of-the-art facility will rival medical facilities in the surrounding region, offering quality care right here in Orange County.”
“Once the Irvine Be Well campus opens its doors, South County’s children, youth, and families will finally have a place where families can stay together to support loved ones in crisis. Be Well Irvine proves Orange County continually invests in creative health, wellness, and resiliency programs for our community,” added Supervisor Foley.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors committed $40 million for the development of the campus, with $22 million from the State, $15 million from Cal Optima and $2 million from the Federal budget, in addition to investments from Memorial Care and Kaiser Permanente. Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) presented $2 million in federal funding he secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill, that President Biden signed into law last year, which led this project over the finish line. The projected cost for the first phase of the campus is $86 million.
Orange County has emerged as a leader in the transformative landscape of mental health care, aligning itself seamlessly with the recent passage of SB 326. With a commitment to prioritizing mental well-being, Orange County has pioneered innovative approaches to address the complex challenges of mental health. Drawing from the initiatives put forth by the state, the county has forged a path that combines accessibility, inclusivity and a holistic approach to mental health services, and has fostered a community where individuals can find support, resources and hope on their journey to wellness.
The Be Well OC Irvine campus is located on 22 acres of county-owned property that was deeded to the County of Orange as part of the Closure Realignment Act in the 1990s, on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The long-term vision for the Irvine Campus is to provide a full continuum of mental health and wellness services for children, adolescents, families and adults in Orange County, from urgent care to residential treatment to community wellness support.
The Campus will be developed in three areas, beginning with Area 1 which includes approximately 75,000 square feet of building space to house an array of adult and adolescent services, including crisis stabilization mental health urgent care, a sobering center, and residential and outpatient programs. The community has been instrumental in identifying the types of services and programs needed to help children, adults and families reach their optimal mental health.
Area 2 is planned for child, youth and perinatal specialty programming, expanding both residential and outpatient services capacity while supporting the entire family. Area 3 will expand opportunities for community connections by providing space for educational programs and classrooms, centralized support and navigation services, community meetings, interfaith and multicultural event space, and youth and senior centers.
In addition to much needed clinical services, the Irvine location will provide wrap-around wellness support to families and the entire community such as entry navigation services to connect residents and families to care and services across the County, including a multi-entity health care collective integrating public and private health systems across Orange County with youth and community education and enrichment. Services will be available to all Orange County residents, regardless of insurance type or ability to pay.
Orange County is not only breaking down stigmas surrounding mental health but also serving as a model for other counties to emulate in the quest for a brighter, healthier future for all.
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Environmental Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Co-Chair, Law Library Board of Trustees, Orange County Housing Finance Trust Chair, Local Agency Formation Commission (alt), Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and OC Public Libraries Advisory Board.
