About
About Valley Health Associates
Valley Health Associates is a Salinas-based nonprofit dedicated to substance use disorder treatment for youth and adults across Monterey and San Benito counties. Operating out of suites on Blanco Circle, the organization runs a SAMHSA-certified Opioid Treatment Program and delivers outpatient counseling, group therapy, family therapy, and medication-assisted treatment within a whole-person framework. Both on-site and mobile wellness unit services extend access into rural and underserved areas.
Clinical leadership is led by Dr. Edgar Castellanos, MD, MPH, FSAM, Medical Director, with Lena Allen, LCSW serving as Clinical Director (more than 20 years of experience with children and families). Esmeralda Montenegro Owen leads development and communications, helping connect the organization with regional partners. The team integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and MAT with art, gardening, healthy cooking, and mindfulness components as part of a transformative “whole-person, whole-family, whole-community” approach.
The organization is CARF-accredited and licensed by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. Valley Health Associates accepts Medi-Cal, private insurance, self-pay, and state insurance, with sliding accommodations made for those with limited resources. Newly launched Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services help complex clients with substance use disorders coordinate care across the broader health and social-service system.
Programming spans equitable ASAM-based assessment and diagnosis, outpatient treatment, MAT for clients age 16 and up, peer recovery support, substance use education, overdose-awareness training with naloxone distribution, transportation and translation navigation, and support groups. Court-ordered clients, pregnant women, HIV/AIDS support, and adolescent populations all access services through dedicated tracks within the program.
- Certified Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) with specialized protocols for opioid detox and withdrawal management
- Medical Director Dr. Edgar Castellanos holds Fellowship in Addiction Medicine (FSAM) credentials
- CARF accreditation ensures quality standards for medical detox and withdrawal protocols
- Mobile Wellness Unit extends medical detox services throughout Monterey County service area
- Sliding scale payment plans make urgent medical detox accessible regardless of insurance status