Community Capital Facilities - Behavioral Health Facilities

The Department of Commerce manages funding awards through direct appropriation and competitive processes that establish new capacity for behavioral health services by building or rehabilitating facilities. Commerce’s partners in the program include the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), the Health Care Authority (HCA), the Department of Health (DOH), and one representative each from a Managed Care Organization (MCO), an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), an Accountable Communities of Health (ACH), a Behavioral Health Administration Service Organization (BH-ASO), and the Association of County Humans Services (ACHS).

The Behavioral Health Facilities (BHF) Program’s competitive funding rounds are open to nonprofits, public entities, tribes and for-profit businesses. Nonprofit and for-profit business applicants must be registered in the State of Washington. All applicants 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 for capital projects only. Program funds come from the sale of state bonds (no federal funds). Grant funds may be used for design, engineering, construction and equipment costs associated with establishing these facilities. New flexibility for the 2019-21 biennium grants includes the ability to fund the acquisition of a building or land if the project results in increased capacity.