By Lindsey Coulter
STOCKTON, Calif. — San Joaquin County officials joined state leaders and healthcare providers on Sept. 10 to break ground on the SJ BeWell Campus, a $261 million behavioral health facility that will expand access to care and consolidate services on an 18.6-acre site near San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp.
The project, more than two years in development among County departments, will deliver a comprehensive model for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. When complete, the site will feature both a South Campus and a North Campus, providing a continuum of care from crisis stabilization to outpatient and residential treatment.
“The SJ BeWell Campus will ensure that San Joaquin County residents can access compassionate, effective care close to home, while also easing the pressure on our hospitals and emergency services,” said Paul Canepa, chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, in a statement. “Today we are not just moving dirt, we are moving forward with a vision that puts people first.”
Project Scope and Facilities
Photo Credit (all): San Joaquin County
The South Campus will house a 76,000-square-foot Community and Outpatient Services building, a 35,250-square-foot Urgent Care Services building with 42 beds, and two Residential Treatment Program buildings totaling 132 beds. An urgent care clinic will be operated by SJ Health Centers.
The North Campus will add Supportive Transitional Housing with 252 beds across 150,360 square feet. The four-building development is designed to integrate behavioral health and primary care services into a single location, creating what county leaders describe as a “whole health” model.
Phase 1 will deliver more than 200,000 square feet of facilities, including the outpatient, urgent care, and residential treatment components, providing 132 beds and 241 treatment slots. Phase 2 will follow with supportive housing, community amenities, and additional supportive service space.
Genevieve Valentine, director of San Joaquin County Health Care Services, said the facility represents “a new chapter in care delivery. The SJ BeWell Campus is more than buildings; it is a promise to deliver compassionate, innovative care in a setting designed to heal.”
Site work is scheduled to begin in November. The first building is expected to open in July 2027, with the remaining three buildings coming online at six-month intervals. The full campus is slated to be operational in 2029.
Ceremony
The groundbreaking event featured remarks from county and state leaders, a ceremonial shovel turning with 15 participants, and the unveiling of a project video showcasing the design vision.
When fully operational, county leaders say the campus will be one of the most comprehensive behavioral health care resources in California’s Central Valley.
Supervisor Robert Rickman called the project a “generational investment.” He added: “The SJ BeWell Campus is built not only for today’s needs, but for the needs of our children and grandchildren. It is a forward-looking commitment to the health and wellness of our County.”
Board vice chair Sonny Dhaliwal added that the project also has an important equity dimension: “The SJ BeWell Campus is about removing barriers to treatment. Every resident, regardless of background, deserves access to behavioral health services. This project will open doors and save lives.”