TrueCare to Merge With Palomar Family Counseling Service, Expanding FQHC Behavioral Health Across North San Diego County (Effective Sept. 1, 2026)
TrueCare — one of San Diego County's largest nonprofit community health centers — announced plans to merge operations with Palomar Family Counseling Service (PFCS), a North County behavioral-health nonprofit operating since 1956, effective September 1, 2026. PFCS services in Escondido, Vista, and Fallbrook will continue without interruption, as will its programs in 42 local schools; TrueCare CEO Michelle D. Gonzalez said the merger preserves access for the more than 6,000 individuals and families PFCS serves each year, and the combined organization will serve about 80,000 lives annually.
The move continues the safety-net consolidation trend in which FQHCs absorb specialty behavioral-health capacity to stabilize services and broaden their footprint — and it lands as San Diego FQHCs brace for the 2027 Medi-Cal changes.
Key takeaways
- An FQHC (TrueCare) is absorbing a 1956-founded behavioral-health nonprofit (PFCS) effective Sept. 1, 2026 — school-based programs in 42 schools and sites in Escondido, Vista, and Fallbrook continue uninterrupted.
- The combined organization will serve about 80,000 lives annually — a safety-net consolidation signal ahead of the 2027 Medi-Cal changes.
Linked evidence
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Affected FQHCs
FQHC Talent. (2026, June 19). TrueCare to Merge With Palomar Family Counseling Service, Expanding FQHC Behavioral Health Across North San Diego County (Effective Sept. 1, 2026). Linked evidence: TrueCare. Retrieved September 11, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/truecare-palomar-family-counseling-merger-2026
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