The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $17.9 million in grants to fund eight projects across the state that will increase services and community-based treatment options for individuals with a wide variety of behavioral health challenges.
The investments support Governor Jay Inslee’s five-year plan to modernize and transform Washington’s mental health system, with the goal of ending civil patient placements at the state’s two large hospitals by 2023 in favor of smaller community-based facilities.
Behavioral health facility grants were available in four funding categories: 90/180 day civil commitments; enhanced services facilities; peer respites, and intensive behavioral health facilities. The eight awards build on $51 million invested earlier this year from funding provided by the legislature for the 2021-23 biennium.
The funds are for construction, renovation, acquisition, and/or equipment costs associated with establishing the facilities, and the projects must maintain the facility for the intended use for at least 15 years.
Eastern Washington’s Benton County received the largest grant amount of $2.7 million. The funds will go to Aristo Healthcare Services for the Tri City Nueva Esperanza project in Kennewick.
The other four grant awards were allocated to counties west of the Cascades.
