Fresno County allocates funds for children's mental health services building

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno County is a step closer to restoring mental health services for children. Instead of sending children out of town for treatment, some will be able to stay close to home and family.

The building on the grounds of the former County Hospital complex will become an inpatient psychiatric hospital for children.

"Today we allocated $2 million to start remodeling a facility on our VMC campus that will be used to house children in crisis situation that need immediate care," said Henry R. Perea, Fresno County Supervisor.

Fresno County has been without an inpatient treatment center for children for more than 12 years, meaning children in need were sent to facilities in Bakersfield and Los Angeles -- creating a real hardship for the children and their families.

"Every day kids are going all over the State of California for psychiatric inpatient care. And when you are talking about a child in a mental health crisis and you take them hundreds of miles away from their families, that's not how a child recovers. They need to be near those who love them and provides them support," said Perea.

The building is expected to be ready to house between eight and 10 children by early next year. Funding is being provided by the State of California.