View Behavioral Health (VBH), a southern California-based behavioral health organization, announces the completion of View Behavioral Health Colton Children’s (VBHCC), a new 52-bed inpatient Psychiatric Health Facility for children and adolescents. VBHCC is the largest facility of its kind in the Inland Empire and will more than double the region’s inpatient psychiatric bed capacity for individuals under 18 as a statewide, multiyear shortage persists. The milestone was celebrated at a ribbon cutting ceremony today with San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. and City of Colton Mayor Frank J. Navarro in addition to leaders of University of California, Riverside School of Medicine and UC Riverside Health.
“California’s inpatient psychiatric bed capacity for children and adolescents is severely limited and unevenly distributed and we must do all that we can to increase access to behavioral health resources for these future generations,” said Jack Stephens, CEO of View Behavioral Health. “This facility will expand the Inland Empire's total inpatient psychiatric bed capacity for this population by more than 55% and help address the broader statewide shortage of beds.”
According to the California Hospital Association, there were 7.6 inpatient psychiatric beds per 100,000 children/adolescents across California in 2017 (latest available data) and the minimum necessary number is 50 beds per 100,000 children/adolescents. Even further, CHA found that only 15 counties statewide have inpatient psychiatric beds for individuals under age 18 and 23 counties have none.
“Addressing behavioral health remains one of our region’s greatest needs. This new facility expands access to critical psychiatric care for children and adolescents and will provide healing, support, and hope for families across the Inland Empire,” said San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.
VBHCC is a 24,000 square foot, one-story facility featuring four inpatient units, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, dining rooms, admitting suites, and staff areas. Unique in the industry, the facility features primarily single occupancy rooms and has been designed with colors, finishes, and other features that create a welcoming, healing, and supportive space for patients.
“The opening of View Behavioral Health Colton Children’s comes at a critically important moment for the Inland Empire,” said Lisa R. Fortuna, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the UC Riverside School of Medicine. “This new inpatient psychiatric health facility represents an important investment in the health and well-being of our communities. It expands capacity for both child and adolescent behavioral health care and creates new opportunities for stabilization, treatment, recovery, and hope for patients and families close to home.”
Working collaboratively to expand behavioral health resources in the Inland Empire, VBH has established a medical staffing partnership at VBHCC with UC Riverside, School of Medicine at VBHCC. Through this partnership, UC Riverside’s medical staff and faculty, including physicians and advanced practice providers in psychiatry and internal medicine, will work alongside VBH employees to provide the patient care.
“The opening of View Behavioral Health Colton Children’s represents more than a new facility. It reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to compassionate, high-quality mental health care for children and adolescents across Inland Southern California,” said Deborah Deas, MD, MPH, vice chancellor for health sciences and the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the UC Riverside School of Medicine. “Through our partnership with View Behavioral Health, the UCR School of Medicine is proud to help build a stronger, more responsive behavioral health system by providing physicians, advancing clinical excellence, and preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders to serve our communities with expertise, equity, and empathy.”
VBHCC is the first facility to be completed as part of VBH’s new three-building behavioral health campus in the City of Colton. The campus will also include an adjacent 72-bed inpatient Psychiatric Health Facility for adults and an outpatient facility with programs for all age groups. VBH will pursue a combination of California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) Licensing, Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Designation, and The Joint Commission accreditation for the campus. With a planned completion in 2027, this campus will greatly strengthen the behavioral health system in San Bernardino County.
“We commend and welcome View Behavioral Health Colton Children’s and also the future expanded behavioral health campus,” said City of Colton Mayor Frank J. Navarro. “This partnership will turn previously vacant industrial buildings into much needed centers of care for children, adolescents, and adults in need of mental and behavioral health services.”
With the completion of construction, the VBHCC team will now begin a comprehensive licensing and accreditation process through the State of California, San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health, The Joint Commission, and other agencies that would allow VBH to begin admitting patients later this summer.
“The opening of the View Behavioral Health Colton Children's marks an important step forward in improving access to compassionate behavioral health care for the community today and for generations to come.” said Timothy Collins, CEO of UC Riverside Health. “We are proud to stand alongside View Behavioral Health in this work, and excited about what we can build together moving forward.”
VBH’s project team included Uprite Construction, Sign Imaging, Pineapple Furniture, and Uno Furniture, among others. VBHCC is located at 1280 E Cooley Drive, Colton, CA 92324.
About View Behavioral Health (VBH) View Behavioral Health (VBH) is a Southern California–based behavioral health organization, providing high-quality, comprehensive mental health services. VBH operates modern facilities staffed by experienced, compassionate professionals dedicated to supportive and patient-centered care during times of acute and subacute behavioral health needs. For more information, visit vbhcare.com.
This press release was distributed by View Behaviorial Health. For more information, please contact Ken Moore.
