The City of Laguna Beach and Be Well OC joined forces this week to officially launch Be Well OC’s dedicated Mobile Response Team which will provide community mental health and wellness services in the City. Marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony as part of National Night Out at Main Beach and led by Laguna Beach City Councilmember, Alex Rounaghi, the two-year pilot program commenced on August 1st.

Funding for the program includes a combination of public and private funding. Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris secured $1.5 million in state funding to support the program, and the City of Laguna Beach also received $405,111 in CARES Act funds from the County to cover the City’s contribution. The program is also supported by a $200,000 gift from the Ueberroth Family Foundation, which covered the capital investment of the mobile van and initial community outreach efforts.

“Access to mental health services is a pressing need here in Orange County,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris. “I am proud to have secured $1.5 million in state budget funding to ensure that Laguna Beach has a Be Well OC Mobile Crisis Response Team available to respond and provide urgent and timely services to those who need it most.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Be Well OC to the City of Laguna Beach today,” said Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen. “Be Well OC’s crisis intervention specialists will provide resources to support the mental health and wellness of our residents and will coordinate with our police and fire department personnel to enhance the well-being and safety of our community.”

The program incorporates Be Well staff into a city’s network of first responders and enables 911 dispatchers to route mental health and substance use crisis calls to the Be Well Mobile Crisis Response Team. Skilled in de-escalation, crisis intervention, counseling, and mediation, the Be Well Mobile Crisis Response Team effectively addresses the client's emotional and social well-being. If needed and wanted by the client, the team can transport them for additional care.