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Behavioral-health staff warn of coverage gaps; county explores contractors and mutual-aid
Summary
County behavioral-health leadership reported short staffing for designated crisis responder coverage and after-hours crisis services, and discussed contracting and mutual-aid options to maintain obligations.
Skamania County behavioral-health staff told the Board of Commissioners on May 13 that the department faces an immediate staffing shortage that threatens routine office coverage and the county’s legally required two-hour response time for designated crisis responder (DCR) calls.
Staff said the department is short multiple clinicians and that one primary clinician will be on leave. The shortage reduces daytime clinician coverage and places greater reliance on two contractors who currently cover after-hours crisis calls. Department leadership said June and July staffing is covered for after-hours through the existing contractors and by the director’s on-call schedule, but daytime coverage and an expected leave could create gaps.
Commissioners and staff discussed contingency options: recruiting additional contractors, offering overtime to other county staff, cross-training existing staff, and exploring agreements with neighboring counties or regional providers for mutual aid or contracted after-hours coverage. Staff noted hospitals remain a default stabilization option for people in crisis if DCR coverage is unavailable, but stressed that county-available crisis responders provide an important alternative that can reduce involuntary hospitalization and downstream court placements.
No formal policy changes were adopted at the meeting. Staff said they will aggressively recruit contractors and will return to the board with options, including proposed contracting arrangements and any required procurement steps.
