Kern Behavioral Health Facility: A Pioneering Crisis and Behavioral Health Solution

The Kern Behavioral Health Facility was initiated to address the critical need for additional crisis and behavioral health beds, particularly for youth and adolescents, filling a significant gap in the healthcare infrastructure. The facility is not a hospital but functions as a locked psychiatric health facility, offering support for both high and low acuity cases outside the jurisdiction of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Design and Layout

The facility comprises two buildings totaling 32,000 s.f. dedicated to short-stay behavioral health residential programs—one for adults and the other for youth and adolescents. The design incorporates a mix of single and double-occupancy bedrooms, with the layout emphasizing ‘neighborhoods’—smaller units of patients surrounded by consults, administrative offices, and social workers. Each of the three wings houses 16 beds, with neighborhoods varying between 6-8 beds. The design is future-proof, allowing for expansion if regulations change.

Central to the project is the ‘living room’ or family room program, which serves as the heart of the facility. It includes a dining area and a full-service commercial kitchen that caters to the programs. Group therapy rooms, quiet activity spaces, and outdoor courtyards further enhance the therapeutic environment. The importance of outdoor spaces is underscored with features like basketball hoops and labyrinths, and local artists have contributed murals themed towards the population.

Innovation and Community Focus

The project’s innovative approach extends to its exterior design, which focuses on regionality and incorporates materials that soften the building’s appearance, developed with the intent of creating a space that doesn’t resemble a typical county building or behavioral health facility. The use of color, materiality, and design elements like breezeblock walls and exaggerated rooflines contribute to a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere.

Challenges and Solutions

The project faced challenges in educating local jurisdiction officials about the unique function of the building, particularly as it differs from standard healthcare facilities. Through diligent efforts by the construction team and the county project manager, they were able to bring inspectors up to speed, ensuring a smooth plan review process.

The Kern Behavioral Health Facility not only meets the immediate needs of the community but also sets a new standard for behavioral health care environments in the region. Its thoughtful design, attention to detail, and innovative solutions make it a model for future projects in the field.