San Joaquin County Breaks Ground on $261M Behavioral Health Campus

San Joaquin County has broken ground on the SJ BeWell Campus, a $261 million behavioral health facility near San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp, marking the largest mental health investment in the county’s history. The campus will integrate mental health and substance abuse treatment, outpatient care, residential treatment, crisis stabilization, and youth and family support, aiming to provide a comprehensive continuum of care under one roof. The first phase, set for completion in April 2028, includes four buildings offering community and outpatient services, urgent care, and residential treatment with 132 beds, funded partly by a $137 million state grant and county funds. County officials emphasize that the facility will help reduce stigma by treating patients with dignity and expanding access to behavioral health services locally, including for youth who previously had to seek treatment out of the region. The campus is designed to improve care coordination, reduce emergency room visits, and support long-term recovery with housing options. Leaders view the project as transformational for the community and a critical step toward addressing longstanding gaps in behavioral health resources.