The Monterey County Health Department just got a huge influx of money—$6 million—to fight substance abuse and expand mental health services in South County, it announced June 19.
The funding comes from the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections as a result of Prop. 47, the voter initiative passed in November 2014.
That initiative reduces certain low-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, reducing the need for more jail cells. The savings are then directed into rehabilitative programs.
The Health Department's Behavioral Health Bureau will open two new service sites in King City to provide substance use disorder treatment to a minimum of 100 people a year.
"This project will begin to fill the gaps for substance use disorder services in South Monterey County," Supervisor Simón Salinas said in a statement. He represents District 3, which stretches from Salinas down to the southernmost border.
The funding will also cover a centrally located sobering center, job training, civil legal services, restorative justice and case management.
The sobering center "represents a new opportunity to divert people from jail into treatment," said Dr. Amie Miller, behavioral health director. She thanked the Monterey County Sheriff's Office for its support as the department plans the "innovative" project.
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