Mayor Karen K. Goh
City of Bakersfield
Office of the Mayor | 1501 Truxtun Avenue | Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 326-3770 | [email protected]
Secretary Kim Johnson
California Health and Human Services Agency
1215 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Care in Kern County, California
Dear Secretary Johnson:
I am writing to express support for the Bakersfield American Indian Health Project’s (BAIHP) application for the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program Bond 1 Grant.
As of 2022, Kern County has 18,603 Native American residents. Of this population, 64% live within ten miles of the proposed project. Currently, the closest Title 1 tribally owned health center is sixty-five miles away from the City of Bakersfield. This distance is a significant barrier to care, particularly for those in rural and remote areas in Kern County.
This grant will allow BAIHP to establish a Behavioral and Mental Health Urgent Care, Community Wellness Center, Community Mental Health Clinic, and an Outpatient treatment center for substance use disorders. These add screening, assessment, crisis intervention, referral, treatment and culturally relevant services for adults and youth. The proposed clinic results in twenty-five outpatient slots that would provide care for 6,125 individuals annually.
BAIHP’s mission aligns with the county’s critical need for accessible culturally responsive behavioral health care. By 2023, the organization plans to meet 76% of the primary care demand in their service area. BAIHP has already demonstrated its ability to meet community needs. Year to date, the organization has served 425 unique individuals, totaling 6,297 encounters. BAIHP currently provides 6.2% of the Native American market share for behavior health visits from within Kern County.
The City of Bakersfield fully supports the BAIHP’s proposal and has committed to contribute $250,000 in opioid settlement funds to the project’s match requirement should the grant be awarded. The success of this project will bring vital comprehensive services to Native American communities in Kern County and beyond.
Sincerely,
Karen K. Goh
Mayor, City of Bakersfield