City Mulls Contract With Be Well OC For Mental Health Services

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach City council members will discuss whether or not to enter into an agreement with Be Well Orange County for mobile mental health services during its meeting Tuesday, March 7.

The proposed two-year agreement would come at a cost of $1.75 million, according to a city staff report. If approved, a mobile response team would handle calls for mental health services in the city that do not present a dangerous situation or require medical care, thus lightening the load on law enforcement and other first responders.

In addition, the Be Well OC response team would work with the community in Laguna Beach, according to a city staff report.

Be Well OC currently operates similar services in Orange County cities including Huntington Beach, Irvine and Newport Beach.

The agreement, if approved, would bring two crisis counselors to Laguna Beach. The expected start date would be July 1, the city said.

While the agreement comes with a $1.75 million price tag, a city staff report said the city's contribution would be $250,000 due to outside funding.

According to the staff report, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris raised $1.5 million in state funding for the mobile staff program.

The Laguna Beach City Council meets Tuesday at 5 p.m. in council chambers, 505 Forest Ave. To read the council's agenda, visit the city's website.