Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness has opened a new service center in Lompoc that brings several adult behavioral health programs together under one roof.
County leaders and staff marked the opening of the facility at 425 W. Central Ave. during an open house Wednesday, where community members got a look inside and heard how bringing services together is expected to improve coordination of care.
Katie Cohen, assistant director of clinical operations, said the new center reflects a broader shift in how the county approaches treatment.
“For far too long, mental health and substance use challenges have been treated separately by different systems in different places, often at different times,” Cohen said. “But we know the truth. These struggles are deeply connected, and when care is fragmented, people fall through the cracks.
“This clinic was created to close those gaps.”
Cohen said the center offers a continuum of services, including the adult outpatient clinic, the Substance Use Disorder Wellness and Recovery Access Point (SUDWRAP), Assisted Outpatient Treatment, the CARE Act, Justice Alliance and homeless services.
“In this space, someone can receive therapy and medication-assisted treatment under one roof,” she said. “They can be heard, supported and treated with dignity without having to navigate the maze of disconnected services.”
Behavioral Wellness staff said some of those programs previously had been spread across multiple sites in Lompoc, making coordination more difficult for both staff and clients. The center also houses a daytime mobile crisis team, on-site psychiatrists who can prescribe medications and nurses who can administer injections.
Katie Cohen, assistant director of clinical operations for Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, speaks during an open house Wednesday at the department’s new service center in Lompoc. Cohen says the clinic was created to help close gaps in care. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo
Eric Rowan, team supervisor for the county’s Homeless Services program, said the new setup makes it easier to connect people with additional help when needs overlap.
“Literally, when we connect a client for mental health treatment with our psychiatrist and it turns out they also have a substance abuse problem they are willing to address, our whole substance abuse treatment team is on the other side of the wall,” Rowan said.
Rowan said that means staff no longer have to spend as much time moving clients between appointments at different locations and can instead connect them more quickly with additional services, including substance use treatment offered through SUDWRAP.
Melissa Wilkins, branch chief for Behavioral Wellness’ Alcohol and Drug Program, said SUDWRAP began as a grant-funded response to the opioid crisis for adolescents and young adults but has since expanded to serve both adolescents and adults.
“We serve not just opioid use disorder, but all kinds of substance use disorders,” she said.
Wilkins said SUDWRAP emphasizes medications for addiction treatment as part of its approach to recovery.
“Our substance use disorder counselors work closely with the clients to provide recovery skills and support,” she said. “We also link them with our psychiatrists who are specialized in addiction treatment.”
A sign marks the entrance to Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness’ new service center at 425 W. Central Ave. in Lompoc during an open house Wednesday. The site now houses several adult behavioral health programs in one location. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo
Wilkins said the program provides free naloxone, also known as Narcan, to anyone living in Santa Barbara County to help reverse opioid overdoses. She said residents can pick it up at the center or request it by mail.
Suzanne Grimmesey, chief of strategy and community engagement for Behavioral Wellness, said one of the biggest challenges is making sure people who need help know where to turn and feel comfortable reaching out.
“My worry is that if we don’t have enough conversations about mental health and tell people where to get help, a lot of people in need won’t access the help that could save them,” Grimmesey said. “The more a community talks about mental health, the more it lessens the stigma.”
Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness’ new service center is located at 425 W. Central Ave. in Lompoc. Credit: Nick Forselles / Noozhawk photo
Grimmesey said people seeking help, or family members worried about a loved one, can call the county’s 24/7 Access Line at 888.868.1649. The line is available 365 days a year in all languages, she said.
While ongoing outpatient services primarily serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries, Grimmesey said the crisis team will respond to anyone regardless of insurance and can help connect people with private coverage to appropriate care.
“No one should feel alone. No one should have to be alone. No one should be struggling because of someone else, because of themselves,” she said. “Just pick up the phone.”
