Quartz Valley Indian Reservation Secures Proposition 1 Funding for New Wellness Center in Siskiyou County

Fort Jones, CA – Siskiyou County is poised to enhance its behavioral health infrastructure with the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation Community Wellness/Prevention Center, the county’s only project funded under Proposition 1 to date. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) awarded $1,541,502 through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready in May 2025 to develop this facility in Fort Jones. Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, the center will offer 30 residential beds for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, addressing a critical need for accessible care in the rural tribal community. Source: BHCIP Round 1 Dashboard, California Department of Health Care Services

Proposition 1, approved by California voters in March 2024, combines the Behavioral Health Services Act (SB 326) and the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act (AB 531), authorizing a $6.38 billion bond to bolster mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities and supportive housing statewide. The BHCIP, allocated $4.4 billion, distributed $3.3 billion in Round 1 across 124 projects in 42 counties, creating over 5,000 residential beds and 21,800 outpatient slots. The Quartz Valley project is a key part of this initiative, aimed at improving behavioral health services for Native American residents in a region with limited resources.

The Wellness/Prevention Center will serve as a vital resource for Siskiyou County, where access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment has been constrained by geographic isolation and sparse infrastructure. While specific details about the center’s programs are pending, as the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation has not yet responded to requests for comment, the project is expected to prioritize culturally sensitive care tailored to the tribal community’s needs. The 30-bed facility will operate for at least 30 years and serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries, aligning with Proposition 1’s requirements. Source: BHCIP Round 1 Guidelines, California Department of Health Care Services

Siskiyou County has struggled to secure additional BHCIP funds in prior rounds, underscoring challenges for rural areas with limited administrative capacity. The county was overlooked in Round 2: County and Tribal Planning Grants (2022, $16 million statewide), Round 3: Launch-Ready Projects (2022-2023, $518 million to 11 counties), and Round 4: Children and Youth (2022-2023, $480 million), which focused on services for those 25 and younger. Source: California Department of Health Care Services

An opportunity remains with Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs, offering over $800 million to rural and underserved areas without prior BHCIP awards. Applications, due by October 28, 2025, require a pre-application consultation, and a tribal-specific webinar on June 24, 2025, will provide guidance. Siskiyou County, potentially in collaboration with Quartz Valley or regional partners, could target gaps in youth services or crisis care to complement the new center. Source: BHCIP Round 2 RFA, California Department of Health Care Services

Proposition 1 also dedicates $2 billion to supportive housing, including 2,350 veteran units, managed by the Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Department of Veterans Affairs, which may offer future opportunities for Siskiyou County. For now, the Quartz Valley Wellness/Prevention Center represents a significant step toward addressing California’s behavioral health bed shortfall, particularly for underserved tribal populations. To learn more about funded projects or apply for Round 2, visit infrastructure.buildingcalhhs.com or MentalHealth.CA.gov.