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 for all residents was difficult and confusing to navigate. 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.
Right now...
Two state-of-the-art behavioral health campuses built by Be Well OC sit in Orange County:
One is underutilized, and the other is ready to serve the population but awaiting County action to open — all while nearly 1 in 3 people who seek help can’t access the care they need.
Be Well OC was created to serve ALL Orange County residents — regardless of insurance.
That was the promise. That must be 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.
FAQs
Isn't behavioral health care already available in Orange County?
Yes, behavioral health services exist but access is the problem. Our own survey shows 65% of Orange County residents sought mental health care in the last year, and 28% of them couldn’t get it. That’s nearly 1 in 3 people turned away.
Be Well OC was built to solve this exact problem. Seven years ago, the community said ‘help is out of reach.’ Be Well OC delivered two world-class campuses ready to serve everyone. But now there’s a new problem: the County is keeping the doors closed. The Orange Campus is underutilized, with the sobering center closed since 20XX. As a result of the County delaying approval of important paperwork, the Irvine Campus has not yet opened, despite the facility being ready to serve clients. And 2/3 of Orange County residents—those with private, VA or Medicare insurance —are unable to access care at either Campus, due to provider decisions made by the County.
The need is urgent. The facilities are ready. What’s missing is the County’s willingness to serve the entire community.
How serious is the behavioral health crisis in Orange County?
It’s happening in every neighborhood, every school, 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.
When people can’t access care, the issue doesn’t go away. It shows up in emergency rooms, in homelessness, in families torn apart. 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.
Why is the County of Orange blocking full operations at both Be Well OC Campuses?
That’s the question Orange County taxpayers should be asking. The County’s public narrative is that they’re ‘protecting taxpayers,’ but their actions tell a different story.
The County recently approved an adolescent and perinatal care provider for the Irvine Campus that has never provided care to adolescents and that provider will ONLY see Medi-Cal patients. 2/3 of Orange County residents will be unable to access that service.
If this were really about protecting taxpayers, why would the County approve a provider that cannot serve the taxpayers who funded these campuses? This isn’t about protection. It’s about control; control over who gets help, control over funding, control over power. And people in crisis are paying the price.
Why does it matter whether commercially insured residents can access the Be Well OC Campuses? Don't they already have options?
Here’s the reality: having commercial insurance doesn’t mean you can access care. Our survey shows 28% of people who sought help couldn’t get it and that includes people with commercial insurance.
Behavioral health care in Orange County is fragmented, overwhelming and often confusing to access. Be Well OC was designed to provide a comprehensive solution for EVERYONE regardless of insurance type. But right now, 2/3 of Orange County residents are locked out because they have commercial insurance. These are teachers, nurses, small business owners, veterans, mothers and taxpayers who funded these campuses. And they’re being told, ‘Sorry, these facilities aren’t for you.’
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 Orange Campus serves Medi-Cal patients every day, and we’re proud of that work. But behavioral health crises don’t discriminate by insurance type. The teacher struggling with depression, the veteran with PTSD, the parent dealing with anxiety, 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’s not healthcare. That’s 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 community. The facility is there, but it is going unused.
- Select providers with strong experience in behavioral health and serving specific populations – who also accept all types (e.g., commercial, VA, Medicare and Medi-Cal) of insurance.
What are you asking the community to do?
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 all. The need is urgent. Now it’s up to us to open the doors.
Specific actions:
- Sign the petition at [change.org link] 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’re in litigation, and that process takes time. But we’re not waiting for a court ruling to fight for change. We’re launching a public campaign to build community pressure on the County. We’re mobilizing supporters. 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. And we’re not backing down until the doors are open to everyone.