Inland Empire Health Plan adds $5M to Wellness Village project

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday a $5 million payment from the Inland Empire Health Plan to the Riverside University Health System to help fund construction of a facility in Mead Valley.

The $580 million, 18-acre Wellness Village campus located at Harvill and Placentia avenues is under construction following a June 12 groundbreaking ceremony.

“The agreement approved today underscores our dedication to creating a holistic recovery environment at the Wellness Village,” RUHS – Behavioral Health Director Dr. Matthew Chang said in a statement. “The initiative expands behavioral health services and provides Riverside County residents with essential resources and support systems in one place, ensuring comprehensive care and recovery. We’re grateful for this show of support.”

Slated for completion in 2026 or early 2027, the facility will feature a “crisis residential behavioral health center” for children under 13 and a children’s mental health urgent care, which are both firsts in Riverside County.

Other services expected to be available at the new medical campus include access to primary-care doctors, dental care, addiction disorder services, supportive housing and a pharmacy, plus “onsite respite for families whose children are in short-term residential care,” according to RUHS.

Social services such as WIC, job training programs and educational resources are among the planned programs that encourage a holistic recovery process for patients and in the process make the Wellness Village the first facility of its kind in California.

“The Wellness Village in Mead Valley represents a transformative step forward in delivering critical resources to our community members,” Jarrod McNaughton, Inland Empire Health Plan CEO, said in a statement. “We are proud to be part of this countywide initiative that will bring vibrant health to our residents.”  

More about the Wellness Village and RUHS is online at www.ruhealth.org.