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Kittitas County reports progress on mental-health tax-funded programs and Handle With Care juvenile referrals
Summary
County public-health staff and the sheriff/police described spending from a 0.1% mental-health and chemical-dependency sales tax, advisory-board funding cycles, school and jail partnerships, and the Handle With Care program that flags children exposed to traumatic incidents for low-barrier school-based support and free counseling.
County public-health staff and law enforcement provided updates on programs funded by a one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax enacted to support mental-health and substance-use services, and on a Handle With Care juvenile-referral program.
Presenters said the sales-tax revenue—authorized under state law (RCW 82.14.460)—generates roughly $2 million annually for mental-health and substance-use programming in Kittitas County. The county established an advisory board that recommends allocations; commissioners make final funding decisions. Staff described a three-pronged approach: funds allocated to school districts for prevention and youth programming, funds supporting justice-system services (behavioral-health court and jail-based assessments), and a competitive RFP cycle that funds community organizations. Presenters said the county has completed two funding rounds and was preparing a third RFP cycle.
Law enforcement and public-health presenters described partnerships embedding behavioral-health services in the jail and emergency settings, and noted measurable activity including behavior-health court graduations and increased assessments intended to reduce recidivism. Officers described that the county allocated operating funds that support crisis responders and embedded clinicians, which shortens response time for police when someone is in crisis.
The police chief summarized the Handle With Care program, which flags juveniles exposed to traumatic incidents (domestic incidents, attempted suicide, violent calls) and alerts schools so they can provide low-key support rather than questioning. The police reported 265 Handle With Care referral events since the program’s October launch; about 30 of those referrals have received free counseling through Central Washington University’s community clinic. Presenters said the program prioritizes non-stigmatizing school support and family counseling, and they encouraged continued community engagement and funding to sustain services. County staff noted the tax includes a sunset clause set for Dec. 31, 2027, and said they will monitor outcomes and likely bring a proposal to extend the tax in 2025–26.
