Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency is pleased to announce the conditional award of $23.7 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program.

These funds will support the construction of a much-needed local psychiatric treatment center aimed at increasing availability of critical mental health services closer to home. Currently, Nevada County, like many other small counties, lack facilities offering these levels of care, meaning residents must seek treatment outside the county.

“This project reflects the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to enhancing behavioral health services for Nevada County residents.  We know that people in our community are sometimes impacted by mental health crises, and we want to ensure that in a hard moment, people have access to the care they need and deserve,” stated Heidi Hall, chair of the Board of Supervisors.

Project Overview 

Nevada County Behavioral Health is spearheading the development of a small, secure mental health facility at the Nevada County Government Center. The facility will provide two essential levels of care:

• Psychiatric Health Facility: Designed for short-term treatment (typically 24 hours to 30 days) in a secure setting.
• Mental Health Rehabilitation Center: Offers longer-term treatment, with stays ranging from several months to a year or more.

This new center will ensure that those in need can receive timely, high-quality care locally. 

“When someone is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, it can be traumatic to be sent to a facility in an unknown location, far from the people who love you.  This facility will allow Nevada County residents to stay close to home and ensure that their care is connected to their ongoing resources and supports,” said Phebe Bell, Nevada County Behavioral Health director. 

Nevada County Behavioral Health has selected Crestwood Behavioral Health through a rigorous Request for Proposal process to lead the design, building, and operation of the facility. With over 50 years of experience and 29 campuses across California, Crestwood brings deep expertise in behavioral health facility development and operation.

The County has also conducted outreach to critical stakeholders to ensure community input and support for the project. Organizations backing this initiative include the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, Nevada County Mental Health Advisory Board, Behavioral Health Consumer Advisory Group, Sierra Nevada Memorial and Tahoe Forest Hospitals, and the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, among others.

This project is made possible through funding from Proposition 1, passed by California voters in March 2024, which includes the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2024. Nevada County submitted a grant proposal in December 2024 to secure funding for this project.

Through spring and summer 2025, Nevada County Behavioral Health will work with community partners and Crestwood to finalize the facility’s design, construction plans, and operational programming. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2025, with the goal of becoming operational within approximately 18 months.

Nevada County remains committed to expanding local mental health care infrastructure and providing essential services to those in need. Nevada County looks forward to working with the community to bring this vision to life.