State grants now available to add community behavioral health care facilities
Commerce now accepting applications for $2 million targeted to increase access to behavioral health crisis and stabilization care in the Spokane region
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce begins accepting applications today from community hospitals and health care providers for grants to help expand or build new behavioral health facilities in the Spokane region. The legislature set aside $2 million for one or more facilities to provide an additional 16 crisis or stabilization beds as part of a 2015 federal court settlement agreement (Trueblood vs. DSHS) and implementation plan to address unacceptable delays in providing competency evaluation and restoration services in the region.
Grant funds may be used for construction and equipment costs associated with establishing the facilities. Funding for the acquisition of a facility or land is also allowed, as long as it results in the targeted increase in capacity for behavioral health services.
The grants are part of the state 2019-21 capital budget which appropriated a landmark $47 million investment in transforming the state’s behavioral health care systems away from large state institutions to more community-based care facilities. These beds will address both urban and rural needs, consistent with the Trueblood settlement. The state agreed to provide an array of services to better deliver the right care, at the right time to people in need. Facilities funded with the Trueblood grants must be in operation by Jan. 1, 2021.
Commerce’s competitive Trueblood grant opens today and closes no later than 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2019. Complete guidelines and application information are available on the Commerce website.
Program Contacts:
Pat Gibbon, patricia.gibbon@commerce.wa.gov , (360) 725-3023
Keith Lewis, keith.lewis@hca.wa.gov (360) 725-5270
Media Contact:
Penny Thomas, Commerce Communications, 206-256-6106