NEWS RELEASE: State awards $14 million to increase number of psychiatric care beds
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced over $14 million in grants to 11 health care providers to develop additional facilities for short-term inpatient psychiatric detention services and state mental hospital diversion. The state’s investment is supported with another $14.6 million from other funding sources.
The grant recipients are:
Short-Term Inpatient Psychiatric Detention Services:
· Excelsior Youth Center – Spokane, $240,881
· Great Rivers Behavioral Health – McCleary, $2,000,000
· Kitsap County Department of Human Services – Bremerton, $1,248,150
· Telecare Corporation – Pierce County, $2,000,000
· Thurston Mason Behavioral Health Organization – Shelton, $984,969
State Mental Hospital Diversion:
· American Behavioral Health Services, Inc. – Chehalis, $755,103
· Columbia Wellness – Kelso, $2,000,000
· Excelsior Youth Center – Spokane, $1,759,119
· RI International – Fife, $928,835
· Sunrise Services – Everett, $2,000,000
· Upriver Place – Spokane, $108,916
The funds are for construction and equipment costs associated with establishing facilities needed to accommodate increased psychiatric admissions as a result of changes to Washington State’s Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) that took effect in 2012 and for the development of facilities that provide for the diversion or transition of patients from the state hospitals. Patients treated are individuals with a mental disorder who may be gravely disabled or pose a danger to themselves or others, and who refuse or are unable to enter treatment on their own.
“These projects add much needed public mental health capacity in these communities and surrounding areas. We continue to build on previous investments to transform the way we think about and deliver services for people with debilitating mental illness,” said Gov. Jay Inslee.
“Meeting the needs of vulnerable populations is a cornerstone for strengthening communities,” said Brian Bonlender, Director of the Department of Commerce. “A shared commitment by public-private partnerships such as these is essential to maintaining the high quality of life that makes Washington a sought-after destination for families and employers from all over the world.”
The grants were awarded through a competitive process conducted by Commerce, the Washington State Department of Health, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the Health Care Authority. The projects must maintain the beds or facility for the intended use for at least 10 years.
Mental health bed grants are for hospitals or other entities to establish new services through the publicly funded mental health system such as:
· Community hospital inpatient psychiatric beds
· Free-standing evaluation and treatment facilities
· Enhanced service facilities
· Triage facilities
· Crisis stabilization facilities with 16 or fewer beds
· Secure detoxification facilities and co-occurring treatment facilities
· Transitional facilities
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Contact: Penny Thomas, Commerce Media Relations, 206-256-6106