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Commissioners discuss private mental-health facility plans as state hospital closures loom
Summary
Board members heard an update on a private mental-health facility proposal and discussed opportunities to use federal funding to create local care capacity as Washington plans to close or reduce operations at state hospitals; no formal county commitment was recorded during the meeting.
At Tuesday’s Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners and staff discussed a private proposal to develop a local mental-health and rehabilitation facility, including a property the presenters described as a 16-bed unit purchased at "Charlie’s." One commissioner said the county appears to be “at the forefront” of an opportunity to provide local capacity as Washington moves to close or reduce services at Western and Eastern State Hospitals, noting the state is under pressure and is facing fines for continuing to operate those facilities. Commissioners and staff discussed whether federal funding from recent executive-level proposals could be tapped to support local facilities. Speakers urged the county to take a proactive stance rather than waiting for state direction: one commissioner said that if the state lacks a written plan to close the hospitals and rehouse patients, the county should consider drafting recommended approaches and pursue federal funding streams. Another commissioner said staff should continue to identify overlaps between the private proposal and existing county services and seek opportunities to avoid duplication. County officials said the private group is following Department of Social and Health Services rules for care and that preliminary work is underway; commissioners asked for regular briefings on the proposal and on federal funding prospects. No formal vote or commitment of county funds was recorded at the meeting.
