Open the Be Well Campuses to All!
The only thing standing between Orange County residents and life-saving behavioral health care is the County’s refusal to open the doors.
Seven years ago, Orange County said access to behavioral health care was fragmented and out of reach. Be Well OC took steps to solve that problem — building world-class facilities ready to serve everyone. But today, the problem continues: red tape is keeping access to these campuses limited and, in the case of the Irvine Campus, the doors remain closed.
We need your help to open them.
What Our Community Is Saying
Rabbi Richard Steinberg
Congregational Rabbi, LMFT &
Board Member, Be Well OC
Dr. Richard Afable
Chairman of the Board, Be Well OC
Dave Coffaro, CEO of Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce
City of Irvine Remarks
Right now...
Right now, two state-of-the-art behavioral health campuses built by Be Well OC sit in Orange County — one underutilized with open beds, one ready to serve, but awaiting County action to open — while nearly 1 in 3 people Orange County who sought help, or knew someone who did in the past year, were unable to access the care they needed.
Be Well OC was created to serve ALL Orange County residents, regardless of insurance.
That was the commitment. That is not the reality.
We’re asking Orange County residents to stand with us
and demand that the County open the doors and open access for all.
This is a movement for justice. The campuses are ready to serve. The need is urgent. Now it’s up to us to open the doors to all.
FAQs
How serious is the behavioral health crisis in Orange County?
It’s happening in every neighborhood, every school, and every workplace. One in five Orange County residents will experience a behavioral health issue every year. Two-thirds of Orange County residents say the need for expanded behavioral health services is extremely or very urgent. This isn’t abstract; it’s your neighbor, your coworker, your kid’s teacher, your husband, your child.
When people can’t access care, the issue doesn’t go away. It shows up in emergency rooms, in families torn apart or in distress, people missing work or school, and neighbors unsure where to turn. Be Well OC was designed to meet people where they are, with comprehensive, compassionate care. But you can’t access care if the doors are closed, access is restricted, or your insurance isn’t accepted.
Why is the County of Orange blocking full operations at both Be Well OC Campuses?
That’s the question of Orange County taxpayers, and hospital systems who donated to these campuses and who were promised care regardless of payor, should be asking.
- At the Be Well OC Orange Campus, access to the adult residential treatment programs is limited to County-approved referrals through the behavioral health system and does not allow walk-in admissions. Because the County must approve all admissions, many residents — including those with private insurance or private providers — may not be able to access services even if they meet clinical criteria.
- 2/3 of Orange County residents cannot access this service.
- Additionally, the sobering center at the Orange Campus has been closed for more than one year and we don’t know why. This has caused a burden on law enforcement, who are then forced to bring these individuals to busy hospital emergency departments or crowded jails.
Why does it matter whether commercially insured residents can access the Be Well OC Campuses? Don't they already have options?
Having commercial insurance doesn’t mean you can access care.
Behavioral health care in Orange County is fragmented, overwhelming and often confusing to access. The Be Well OC Campuses were designed to serve EVERYONE in Orange County, regardless of insurance type. But right now, 2/3 of Orange County residents are locked out of many services because they have commercial insurance. These are teachers, nurses, veterans, mothers, small business owners and taxpayers who funded these campuses. And they’re being told, ‘Sorry, not for you.’
This isn’t about winning a legal battle. It’s about accountability. The County made promises to Orange County residents, and we’re holding them to those commitments.
What's wrong with focusing on Medi-Cal patients? Aren't they the most vulnerable?
Absolutely, Medi-Cal patients need and deserve excellent care. Be Well OC Campuses are designed to, and have (in Orange) served Medi-Cal patients. But behavioral health crises do not discriminate against insurance types. The teacher struggling with depression, the veteran with PTSD, the parent dealing with depression, the high school student struggling with anxiety and suicidal ideation, they all deserve access to care. And Orange County taxpayers, including those with commercial insurance, funded these campuses. They have every right to access them.
The County’s approach creates a two-tiered system: help for some, locked doors for others. That is not healthcare. That is gatekeeping.
What specific actions are you requesting from the County?
- Approve the Irvine Campus sublease document so that Be Well OC can execute leases with behavioral health providers to open the Irvine Campus.
- Open the sobering center at the Orange Campus to serve the entire community. The facility is there, but it is going unused.
- Eliminate the gatekeeping restrictions on program admissions.
What are you asking the community to do?
We are asking Orange County residents to stand with us and demand that the County open the doors and open access FOR ALL. This is a movement for justice. The campuses are ready to serve. The need is urgent. Now it’s up to us to open the doors to all.
Specific actions:
- Sign the petition at Change.org/CutTheRedTapeOC demanding the County open both campuses to all residents.
- Contact the Orange County Board of Supervisors and tell them you support full access to the Be Well OC Campuses.
- Share your story — if you or someone you love has struggled to access behavioral health care, let your voice be heard.
What happens next?
We are committed to this public advocacy campaign and helping the public understand what is happening at the Be Well Campuses.
We’re telling the stories of people who cannot access care. And we’re holding the County accountable at every Board of Supervisors meeting, every public forum, every opportunity. The Campuses are ready. The need is urgent. Open the doors to everyone.
Why did the County terminate Be Well’s contract to oversee providers at the Orange Campus in 2024?
At its core, and what our legal case argues, is that we believe it’s about control and about attaining a valuable real estate asset. Either way, it’s not our intention to ever re-enter that type of arrangement with the County whereby we must oversee providers that the County chooses and enters contracts with, in a silo from Be Well. Today, we’re advocating for the County to fulfill its promise to the community and open the campuses to all OC residents.
The County alleges Mind OC mismanaged $64.5 million in public funds. Is this true?
Be Well OC operated under County-approved contracts with County oversight throughout the development of the Be Well campuses. The $64.5 million referenced includes capital funds used to build those facilities, funds that accounting rules require be recorded as revenue even though they are restricted and spent directly on construction. These allegations are just that, allegations in a complaint. They are not findings of fact, and we are confident the record will reflect that.
There have been claims that Mind OC was charging exorbitant rental rates to County-funded behavioral health providers at the Orange Campus. Is that true? Specifically, how do you respond to claims of 'excess rent' on a $1 lease?
No – it is not true. The lease structure was developed with the County and approved as part of the campus development agreements. The County participated in and reviewed the structure throughout the process. It’s not accurate to suggest the terms were suddenly imposed – the County approved and operated under this framework for years. The lease allowed recovery of operating costs. Running a secure, compliant behavioral health campus involves significant expenses. The County reviewed and approved the financial structure over multiple years.
Is this litigation disrupting mental health services?
No. Services continue. Ensuring continuity of care is a priority for Be Well.
Was fraud ever substantiated at the Orange Campus?
No. Fraud was never substantiated by the County, the State, or any oversight body. The audit findings the County has referenced involved administrative and documentation issues — not fraud, waste, or abuse, and many were identified and addressed by Be Well itself.
How does Be Well respond to concerns about its role in the Behavioral Health Equity Assessment contract involving Talentgate, and what is its position on allegations tied to that work?
Be Well has no basis to speak to allegations involving individuals outside our organization. What we can speak to is the record. Be Well is deeply concerned by the continued mischaracterization of the Behavioral Health Equity Assessment contract involving Talentgate. The record is clear: this contract was entered into at the County’s request, through County Health Care Agency leadership, and approved through the County’s standard procurement and oversight processes. Be Well did not self-initiate this work. During the life of the contract, the County audited the work and issued written confirmation of no findings of wrongdoing. Later, we made the decision to voluntarily return the funds — not because we were found to have acted improperly, but because it was the right thing to do. If the County’s own procurement process failed, the public deserves a full accounting of how that happened inside County government.
Why does former supervisor Andew Do keep coming up as connected to Mind OC and fraud at the campus?
The County continues to try to connect us with Andrew Do to sow public distrust, without evidence. Their ultimate goal – gaining millions in real estate assets. We won’t be distracted. Our focus remains on opening the campuses to all OC residents.