Kern Co. approves millions in grant funding for new behavioral health facility

Kern County will be getting a new facility for its Behavioral Health and Recovery Services department, thanks to grand funding from the state. 

Driving the news: The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a $17 million grant from the Department of Health Care Services. 

• Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services plans to build a new facility in response to an increase in mental health challenges for youth.
• Kern County is also matching $1 million of the grant funding to help build the facility. 
• The state initially awarded the grant funding in June, and the county needed to approve it under new Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Director Alison Burrowes. 
• The project is expected to be completed in 2027.