Imperial County Moves Forward With Behavioral Health Expansion in Brawley
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved steps to move forward with an expansion of the Northern Horizons Behavioral Health Clinic in Brawley.
The project will remodel and expand a county-owned facility to provide mental health and substance use treatment for adults. County officials say the expansion is needed to address growing demand and reduce reliance on emergency rooms and jails.
Behavioral Health Director Leticia Plancarte-Garcia explained the goal of the project during the meeting.
“To address the critical gaps in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, by providing adequate facilities to reduce their reliance on hospitalizations, emergency rooms, or jails as a solution for a lot of these problems.”
Some residents and members of the Board raised concerns about safety, particularly loitering around the facility.
Supervisor Ryan Kelley asked for more details on security plans before moving forward.
“I want to know what the security plan is in detail, to be able to assure the public and the neighbors that you are going to address it. There’s no lingering going on around the site.”
Plancarte-Garcia responded by outlining how the department plans to prevent loitering and ensure safety.
“We provide transportation to and from for those individuals that that don’t have transportation. No one stays roaming around the clinic. Everyone gets transported back to their location wherever we pick them up at their home.”
Behavioral Health Services says it will continue working with the Brawley Police Department and keep the Board updated on safety plans as the project moves forward.
