County staff said Mason County was awarded a Washington State Behavioral Health Innovation Center (WASBIC) grant to fund two additional co‑responder positions. The county’s match — approximately $38,000 — was previously authorized to be paid from the county’s Treatment Sales Tax.

Officials said the sheriff’s office will contract with OARS (a community partner) for delivery of co‑responder services; the health department will administer grant funds on the county’s behalf through an interdepartmental agreement between the sheriff’s office and the health department. Staff said this arrangement is necessary because WASBIC grant agreements flow through the sheriff’s office but OARS is the service provider under a subrecipient model.

County staff said they are finalizing the grant documents and subrecipient agreement and expected to place the final agreements on a future agenda for signature. The commission did not take immediate formal action at the briefing.