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
The BHF program currently has an application for project proposals open. See below for funding round materials. 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 sign up by entering your email address in the section of this page called E-mail Updates.
The application for project proposals in the Crisis Triage and Stabilization – Trueblood Phase 2, Enhanced Services Facilities (ESF), Mental Health Peer Respite, 90- and 180-day Civil Commitment Facilities, Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities (IBHTF), and Adult or Child/Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU)/Triage Facilities funding categories are now closed. We are currently reviewing submitted applications and award announcements will be made in the fall.
- Child/Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP) Facilities application link: https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/Spring_2022_BHF-Child/Youth_Residential_Crisis_Stabilization_Program_Facilities
Below are some resources developed during previous funding rounds that you might find helpful as you compute an application in our currently open 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. Commerce awarded $44.4 million, to 25 successful applicants that will further the goals for community-based behavioral healthcare across the state and create 317 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 | $7,482,852 | 3 |
| Children and Minor Youth | $7,222,800 | 5 |
| Crisis Stabilization | $2,925,000 | 2 |
| Dementia Care | $6,753,000 | 4 |
| Enhanced Services Facilities | $5,625,999 | 3 |
| Intensive Behavioral Health | $6,838,500 | 3 |
| Peer Respites | $970,000 | 1 |
| Regional Needs | $4,656,000 | 2 |
| Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization | $1,940,000 | 1 |
| Trueblood | $2,500,000 | 1 |
| Direct Appropriation | $72,087,000 | 19 |
| TOTAL | $119,001,151 | 44 |
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 Staff
Department of Commerce
Amanda Sieler
Program Manager
Amanda.Sieler@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-791-1228
Kaletra Welch
Program Manager
Kaletra.Welch@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-764-0053
Paris Rogers
Program Manager
Paris.Rogers@commerce.wa.gov
360-725-2975
Tanya Mercier
Community Projects Supervisor
Tanya.Mercier@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-704-0139
Matt Mazur-Hart
Behavioral Health and Early Learning Section Manager
Matt.Mazur-Hart@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-742-9099
Behavioral Health Technical Assistance
Subject Matter Experts (SME):
Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization Facilities (SWMS)
Zephyr Forest: zephyr.forest@hca.wa.gov
SWMS Fact Sheet (PDF)
Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities (IBHTF)
Meghan DeGallier: meghan.degallier@hca.wa.gov Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Services Tool Kit
IBHTF 7.22.pptx (PDF)
90- and-180-day Civil Commitment Facilities
Margo Miller: margo.miller@hca.wa.gov
90- and 180-Day Long Term Civil Commitment Tool Kit (PDF)
90- and 180-Day LTCC 7.22.pptx (PDF)
Mental Health Peer Respites
Annie Dejka: annie.dejka@hca.wa.gov
Peer Respite Fact Sheet (PDF)
Peer Respite 1.19.pptx (PDF)
Adult and Youth Crisis Stabilization and Triage Facilities
Wyatt Dernbach: wyatt.dernbach@hca.wa.gov
Crisis Triage / Crisis Stabilization Facilities Fact Sheet (PDF)
Child/Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program
Tina Burrell: tina.burrell@hca.wa.gov
Residential Crisis Stabilization Program Fact Sheet (PDF)
Trueblood Phase 2 – Crisis Stabilization and Triage Facilities
Keith Lewis: keith.lewis@hca.wa.gov,
Charles Gilman: charles.gilman@dshs.wa.gov and Danielle VerHey: danielle.verhey@dshs.wa.gov
Health Care Authority
Kara Panek, Adult Behavioral Health Facilities
kara.panek2@hca.wa.gov
Phone: 360-338-5333
Michele Wilsie, Rates and Finance Manager
michele.wilsie@hca.wa.gov
Phone: 360-561-1662
Department of Health
Community Health Systems
Dan Overton, Inpatient/Residential Behavioral Health Facilities Program Manager
Dan.Overton@doh.wa.gov
Phone: 360-236-2953
Cell: 564-201-0579
Department of Social and Health Services
Aging and Long-Term Support Administration
Home and Community Services Division
Jamie Tong, Resource Development Unit Manager:
Jamie.Tong@dshs.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-3293.
Enhanced Services Facilities (ESF)
Enhanced Adult Residential Care Facilities for Long-Term Placements for Dementia, aka Specialized Dementia Care (SDC)