Santa Barbara County’s Mental Health Concerns: A Tough Decision for Supervisors Renewing Contract with Wellpath

The Supervisors of Santa Barbara County face a tough decision when it comes to renewing their contract with Wellpath, the privately contracted health care provider for the jail’s mental-health care. During negotiations, the supervisors were reminded of the shortcomings in the mental-health care provided and the contract violations that have gone unchecked. Mental health advocates from the League of Women Voters urged the supervisors to prioritize Wellpath’s noncompliance and history of violations during these talks.

Wellpath is essentially the only option for mental- and medical-health treatment for incarcerated individuals in the county. Despite recognizing this lack of alternatives, it is uncertain whether the county’s Public Health Department could be a viable option for the contract. The Sheriff’s Office has conducted 50 negotiating sessions with Wellpath but reaching an agreement is proving difficult due to the complexity of the contract.

Recent audits have shown that Wellpath did not meet minimum staffing levels during the COVID pandemic, and the Sheriff’s Office failed to enforce penalties outlined in