Bothell City Council approves contract for mental health services with North Shore YMCA

The Bothell City Council meeting on July 8, 2025, focused on a significant resolution regarding mental and behavioral health services in the community. The council discussed a proposed contract with the North Shore YMCA, aimed at enhancing mental health support and addressing substance use disorders.

Anand Mantri Pragada, the human services coordinator, and Miles Walker, a senior management analyst in finance, presented the details of the contract to the council. They highlighted the city's previous partnership with the Center for Human Services, which concluded in June 2025, and the findings from a human services needs assessment conducted in July 2024. This assessment identified a pressing need for improved mental health and substance use support in Bothell.

During budget discussions in 2024, the council directed staff to explore solutions to these identified needs. Following this, a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed and presented to various human services partners, including local nonprofits and the human services subcommittee. In May 2025, the council approved the use of opioid settlement funds to partially finance the new contract.

The selection process for the contract involved reviewing four applications, with the North Shore YMCA being chosen as the preferred vendor by a team of six members from various departments. The council is now poised to authorize the city manager to execute this contract, marking a crucial step in enhancing mental health services in Bothell.

This initiative reflects the city's commitment to addressing mental health challenges and improving community well-being, with the council's decision expected to have a positive impact on residents in need of support.