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County staff: block-grant allocations preserved for 2026; co-responder teams and county-city funding to expand crisis response
Summary
Spokane County staff told the Behavioral Health Advisory Board that state and federal block-grant allocations to the region were not reduced for the upcoming fiscal year, outlined planned county and city investments in crisis services, and described a planned co-responder pilot with Spokane Fire.
Justin Johnson, county staff member, told the Spokane County Behavioral Health Advisory Board that the region negotiated to avoid reductions in its 2026 state block-grant allocations despite earlier expectations of cuts tied to federal changes. "We were able to also negotiate no changes to our existing funding to protect the ongoing work that we're doing," Johnson said.
Johnson told the board that the county will expand general-fund services for outpatient needs to more than $450,000 beginning July 1 to cover increased demand for outpatient services and medication management in rural areas. He said the county also plans two years of strategic planning with STARS and is working to make STARS' building ownership and renovations sustainable.
On co-responder teams, Johnson outlined an agreement the county expects to finalize with the City of Spokane to create four co-responder teams (two-person units pairing a paramedic and a behavioral health provider) to respond within city limits: "Come the seventeenth, we do anticipate that the board will sign the co responder agreement with Spokane City to build out 4 teams of 2, paramedic and a behavioral health provider..." He said state-designated co-responder funds are limited ($75,000) and not sufficient to fund a durable team, so the county is using mental-health sales tax and other local dollars to complete the program.
Johnson and other staff briefed the board about federal uncertainty. He said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) could undergo federal reorganization this year and that the county had to return $10 million to the state earlier but negotiated flexibility that preserved ongoing program allocations. He also referenced legislation described in the meeting as "engrossed substitute hospital 18 13" that the county said strengthens crisis response designation and flexibility with managed-care organizations.
Board action: later in the meeting the advisory board voted to endorse the mental-health and substance-use block-grant plans presented by county staff. The meeting showed a motion and a second; members indicated "all in favor" by thumbs-up and the motion carried.
Discussion vs. decision: county staff provided a substantive funding and legislative update (discussion). The board formally voted to approve the two block-grant plans as presented (decision). County staff noted that final contract-level disbursements and any federal changes in 2027 could alter allocations.
Ending: County staff said the region will monitor state and federal developments, continue close coordination with managed-care organizations and city partners, and report back to the board as plans and funding evolve.
