Behavioral Health Facilities Program
Behavioral Health Facilities grants establish new behavioral health service capacity through acquisition, renovation or new construction of real property.
Our Program
The Behavioral Health Facilities (BHF) program aims to support community providers in expanding and establishing new capacity for behavioral health services in local communities.
Commerce’s BHF program funding opportunities include:
• Competitive grants to eligible organizations
• Direct appropriations from the Legislature
Funding Availability Information
The BHF program funding is open to eligible organizations who are either a community hospital or a community based behavioral health provider. Applicants must be either a nonprofit, for-profit, local government or a Tribe. Nonprofit and for-profit business applicants must be registered in the State of Washington. Funded projects must be able to meet all applicable licensing and certification requirements under specific RCWs and WACs pertaining to the behavioral health services proposed in the facilities to which the funding will be applied.
Grants made by the BHF program are for reimbursement of capital projects only. Capital costs include acquisition, design, engineering, construction and capitalized equipment associated with establishing behavioral health facilities. All funded projects must result in an increase in capacity for community-based behavioral health care.
2021 - 2023 Competitive Funding Rounds
BHF currently has two open funding rounds: Children and Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP) and Adult or Child Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU).
- The Children and Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP) and the Adult or Child Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) competitive funding rounds open on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
- Pre-applications are due at 5:00 pm on June 15, 2023.
Final applications are due at 5:00 pm on June 30, 2023.
Applications and supplemental documentation must be submitted via ZoomGrants. To access the applications, visit:
Please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and other documents prior to applying.
- CSU NOFO (PDF)
- RCSP NOFO (PDF)
- FAQs (PDF)
- Program Guidelines (PDF)
- RCSP Health Care Authority (HCA) One Pager (PDF)
Technical Assistance will be open until Monday, June 26, 2023. For questions about either RCSP or CSU, please contact: BHFInquiry@commerce.wa.gov
Q&A Webinars will be hosted for general information about each program. We are unable to answer questions about individual applications at these general sessions.
- Children & Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP):
- Thursday, May 18th – 9:00-10:30 am: Register Here
- Adult or Child Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU):
- Tuesday, May 23rd – 3:00-4:30 pm: Register Here
Funding rounds are announced through our GovDelivery list. If you are not already signed up to receive GovDelivery notices via email, we encourage you to share your contact information with us so you may be notified when competitive funding rounds open. You can also sign up by entering your email address in the section of this page called E-mail Updates.
Below are some resources developed during previous funding rounds that you might find helpful as you complete an application in our funding categories. We recommend reviewing these materials before attempting an application if you have not previously applied for funding from the BHF program:
Competitive Grants Status
The Fall 2021 competitive funding round award notifications have been submitted to successful and non-successful applicants from funding appropriated by the Legislature in the 2021-23 biennium. Commerce awarded $69 million to 34 successful applicants that will further the goals for community-based behavioral healthcare across the state and create 466 new beds and other outpatient services. More information on awarded projects will be posted in the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees.
Commerce awarded $2 million in the Spring 2021 BHF-Premera Blue Cross Crisis Stabilization competitive funding round, to two successful applicants that will create more community-based care options for rural clients seeking behavioral health crisis stabilization. For more information about awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees.
Commerce awarded $2.24 million in the Winter 2020 BHF-Premera Blue Cross Crisis Stabilization competitive funding round, to three successful applicants that will create more community-based care options for rural clients seeking behavioral health crisis stabilization. For information about the awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees.
Commerce awarded $33.8 million in the Spring 2020 competitive funding round, to 22 successful applicants that will create new beds and outpatient services. For information on awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header funding Round Awardees.
Commerce awarded $36.2 million in the Fall 2019 competitive funding round, to 24 successful applicants from across Washington, helping to create additional new beds and outpatient services for community-based behavioral health care. For information on awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees.
Trueblood Crisis Stabilization and Triage Competitive Grant Status
Trueblood is an active lawsuit that challenged unconstitutional delays in competency evaluation and restoration services.
In the 19-21 biennium, Commerce received $2 million for one or more crisis triage and stabilization facilities to add 16 beds in the Spokane region. We awarded $1.96 million of that funding to Spokane County to help fund a new 32 bed facility that is expected to open in later this summer/fall 2021. These beds will address both urban and rural needs, consistent with the Trueblood vs. DSHS Settlement Agreement and Implementation Plan. Click here for the press release.
In the 21-23 biennium, Commerce received $12 million for two 16-bed crisis triage and stabilization facilities in the King County region. Projects must be consistent with the settlement agreement in A.B, by and through Trueblood, et al., v. DSHS, et al. No. 15-35462. In the Fall 2021 funding round, we awarded $2.5 million to a 16-bed facility planned for Federal Way. In the Spring of 2022 another funding round opened and we recently awarded $4.2 million to the second 16-bed facility that will be sited in King County.
2021-23 Behavioral Health Facilities Funding
| Funding Category | Awarded Amount | Number of Projects Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| 90/180 Day Civil Commitments | $10,182,852 | 4 |
| Children and Minor Youth | $7,222,800 | 5 |
| Crisis Stabilization | $23,415,739 | 7 |
| Dementia Care | $4,425,000 | 3 |
| Enhanced Services Facilities | $12,225,999 | 6 |
| Intensive Behavioral Health | $14,338,500 | 6 |
| Peer Respites | $2,070,000 | 2 |
| Regional Needs | $6,984,000 | 3 |
| Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization | $1,940,000 | 1 |
| Trueblood | $6,700,000 | 2 |
| Direct Appropriation | $71,244,140 | 20 |
| TOTAL | $160,799,030 | 59 |
2021-23 Behavioral Health Facilities Competitive Awardees
Behavioral Health Model Ordinance Project
Related Law
Link to 2021-23 Program Legislation:
SHB 1080, Section 1069
SSB 5651, Section 1025
Link to 2019-21 Program Legislation:
SHB 1102, Section 1041
Program Guidelines & FAQ
Funding Round Awardees
Program Reports
Questions about our program? Email us:
BHFInquiry@commerce.wa.gov
Grant Application, Management, and Capital Facilities Contracts
Behavioral Health Technical Assistance
Health Care Authority
Contact: HCABHFacilities@hca.wa.gov for help with:
Health Care Rates and Finance
and these behavioral health facility types:
- 90- and-180-day Civil Commitment Facilities
- Child & Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP)
- Crisis Triage / Crisis Stabilization Facilities (CSU)
- Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities (IBHTF)
- Mental Health Peer Respites
- Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization Facilities (SWMS)
- Trueblood Phase 2 – Crisis Stabilization and Triage Facilities
Department of Social and Health Services
Aging and Long-Term Support Administration
Facility types:
- Enhanced Services (ESF)
- Specialized Dementia Care Program (SDCP)
Contact:
Jamie Tong, Resource Development Unit Manager
Jamie.Tong@dshs.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-3293.
Department of Health
Community Health Systems
Contact:
Dan Overton, Inpatient/Residential Behavioral Health Facilities Program Manager
Dan.Overton@doh.wa.gov
Phone: 360-236-2953
Cell: 564-201-0579
Facility Fact Sheets & Toolkits:
90- and 180-Day Long Term Civil Commitment Toolkit
90- and 180-Day Long Term Civil Commitment Presentation Slides
Child/Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP) Fact Sheet
Crisis Triage / Crisis Stabilization Facilities Fact Sheet
Enhanced Services Facilities Fact Sheet (ESF) Information
Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities (IBHTF) Toolkit
Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities (IBHTF) Presentation Slides
Peer Respite Fact Sheet
Peer Respite Presentation Slides
Secure Withdrawal Management & Stabilization (SWMS) Fact Sheet