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.
2023-2025 Competitive Funding Rounds
Behavioral Health Facilities Funding Availability
Anticipated Grant Rounds to Open Fall 2023*| Regional Needs | $28,443,000 |
| Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities | $24,000,000 |
| Children & Minor Youth | $18,000,000 |
| Closure Prevention | $7,500,000 |
*Timelines are subject to change
The Behavioral Health Facilities Program received competitive Regional Needs, Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facility (IBHTF), Children and Minor Youth and Closure Prevention funding in the 2023-25 Washington State Capital Budget. We will be launching application rounds in the autumn of 2023. If all funds are not awarded during the first competitive application round, we will hold another round in spring of 2024. Please subscribe to our email updates through the tool on the bottom of this page to ensure that you receive the most up to date information about funding and applications dates and requirements.
Competitive Grants Status
The 2021-2023 Adult and Child Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and the Children and Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP) competitive rounds were closed at 5 pm on June 30, 2023. We anticipate making award announcements in September, 2023.
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 2023-2025 Program Legislation:
5200-S.SL.pdf (wa.gov)
(ESSB5200, Section 1023)
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
Need help?
Behavioral Health Team
BHFInquiry@commerce.wa.gov
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:
Home and Community Services, Office of Community Transitions
Resource Support and Development Unit
ResourceDevelopment@dshs.wa.gov
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