County seeks space for mental health center: Facility would be alternative to jail, hospital

Without an alternative like a respite center, Kaplan said families often have their hands tied getting their loved one into treatment until he or she deteriorates to the point that law enforcement or an ambulance is called. That response can end with the person being placed on a psychiatric hold, arrested or in extreme situations even injured or deceased. The center will be a place of safety and care for the client and simultaneously educate family members who may need guidance navigating the oftentimes daunting arena of mental illness.

Kaplan said the Health System has been meeting with interested groups like family members and NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness in San Mateo, about how to better respond in escalated situations and cut down on the number of mentally ill adults ending up in jail.

The result was a desire for a respite center and the idea moved closer to reality when the Board of Supervisors began doling out Measure A sales tax revenue last year.

In late January, the board gave Behavioral Health and Recovery Services the green light to spend up to $2 million to buy a property and another $400,000 to renovate it as needed.

Kaplan said similar centers in other counties run the gamut between clinical and more intimate with some operated by peers and others by professionals. The county is looking for a hybrid model that could accommodate up to 10 adults with an average stay of 10 days. Clients will have not committed serious or violent crimes or pose a danger to themselves or others.

The ideal spot will be residential, said Kaplan, although he concedes a facility catering to the mentally ill can often be a tough sell to neighborhoods.

“I’d be naive and foolish to think we’ll be lucky enough to find a place where that won’t be happening,” Kaplan said.

However, he is optimistic that, with enough outreach and education and a responsible provider, the neighbors may actually consider the facility a positive addition and support it through acceptance and even volunteering.

“I think we can make this happen even if the road is rocky,” Kaplan said. “It’s going to be awesome.”

The initial timeline was to have a center open in July but that is no longer a possibility since a site is yet to be identified. Once it is purchased, the center still has hurdles like getting licensed by the state. The timeline now is as soon as possible, Kaplan said.

michelle@smdailyjournal.com

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