Benton County supervisors discuss moving mental health advocate into public health as regional system dissolves
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Summary
County supervisors heard from Bethany Wheaton, the county'''s mental health advocate, about shifting her position into public health and how funding will change after the regional system ends July 1; board deferred formal action pending the Board of Health'''s decision.
Benton County supervisors on April 1 heard a plan to shift the county'''s mental health advocate into the public health office to stabilize funding and increase outreach after the regional mental health system dissolves July 1.
The change was presented by a county staff member who introduced Bethany Wheaton, the county'''s mental health advocate. Wheaton described the advocate'''s court-appointed role under state law and the work she performs after emergency commitments to connect people to follow-up services. The board was told the county has included funding for the position in its fiscal 2026 budget but that reimbursement rules are shifting under the new administrative services organization (ASO) system.
Why it matters: The advocate provides post-commitment follow-up to people stabilized under emergency hospitalization orders; board members said continuing the position is important to avoid a revolving-door pattern of crises and short-term hospital stays.
Supervisors and staff stressed the position'''s independence from public health program direction: Wheaton said the courts appoint the advocate and she reports to the court on individual cases. County staff said the proposed move is primarily administrative — to place the position where it can access office space and outreach resources — and would not change the advocate'''s statutory duties.
Board of Health review and funding questions
The county'''s public health representative, Grace Schmidt, was described in the discussion as receptive to hosting the advocate, but supervisors said Schmidt'''s board must first vote to accept the arrangement. County staff said they will take the proposal to the Board of Health at its next meeting and return to the supervisors with that board'''s decision.
On funding, the county noted two facts: the county has budgeted to cover the position in fiscal 2026, and state law is changing the reimbursement pathway so that the county may seek reimbursement from the ASO rather than from the outgoing region. County staff and Wheaton said the details and amount of potential ASO reimbursement are not yet known and will have to be learned after July 1.
Operational issues and benefit of office space
Wheaton told the board she currently meets clients in court buildings, parking lots and other improvised locations and said having a regular office location would improve access and continuity. Supervisors supported the idea of colocating the advocate with public health programs such as the Abby Center to improve visibility and coordination.
No formal action taken
Supervisors characterized the presentation as informational. The board did not vote to relocate or reassign the position at the April 1 meeting; instead staff were directed to seek Board of Health approval and report back. The county said it already has budgeted funds for the position for fiscal year 2026.
