Mental Health Triage and Engagement Services Expansion Project

The Mental Health Triage and Engagement Services Expansion Project (MHTES-EP) is a forecast initiative by Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) designed to improve behavioral health care coordination and increase service access throughout Imperial County, California, with a specific focus on rural areas. The project primarily targets children and youth by expanding the capacity and infrastructure of facilities such as the Mental Health Transition Unit (MHTU) and Casa Serena. Key enhancements include the creation of dedicated, age-appropriate therapeutic spaces and the installation of sensory walls to support crisis interventions. The overarching goal is to provide community-based, least-restrictive care and peer support as alternatives to hospitalization and incarceration. The project is located in El Centro, California, and is funded through the California Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP). Under California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5960.3, the project is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and a Notice of Exemption has been filed with the County Clerk and the Office of Planning and Research. While the project was posted as a forecast on July 28, 2025, under NAICS code 623220, specific contractual details such as the total contract value, period of performance, and formal evaluation criteria have not yet been defined. Jim Minnick serves as the primary point of contact for the agency.