OXNARD : Site Is Found for Mental Health Clinic

An Oxnard location for a branch office of the Ventura County Mental Health Department has been found, and the County Board of Supervisors is expected to sign the lease Tuesday.

The site--a vacant J.C. Penney store at 555 South A St.--will house 10 health-care specialists, who will take care of the medical and counseling needs of about 75 clients.

The Oxnard team is part of the county’s Small Community Outreach Treatment and Support program, which is funded by a $16-million state grant for the development of a prototype for mental health care systems in the state.

“We chose this site because it was close to the Oxnard Transportation Center,” said Ray Holzer, who found the property for the county. “Most of the people who use this system take a bus, and the transportation center is practically across the street. And the location is also near Plaza Park so they can get some relaxation.”

Holzer said finding a location was not an easy task.

“Because of the type of use, a lot of people didn’t want a mental health clinic near them, and it’s hard to locate this kind of clinic near retail stores,” he said.

The county program includes four teams in Oxnard, two in Ventura and one each in Santa Paula, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

Once the lease is signed on the north Oxnard location, $80,000 worth of renovations and construction will be needed before the team can begin providing service. Holzer said it should be ready to open by late August.