Coos County commissioners approved a contract amendment to extend services with Bay Area First Step and authorized hiring a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to expand behavioral‑health capacity.

"It's a contract for peer services and housing. And it is to extend it through 06/30/2027. It's about $84,000 in fixed fees, and about another $36,000 in fee for service fees that we will pay them for their services," Department Head Mike Raley told the board while presenting the agreement amendment. The board approved the contract amendment and authorized department head Mike Raley to sign via DocuSign.

Separately the board approved an employment agreement with Jacob Stradling to provide psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) services. Mike Raley said the county had three in‑house practitioners earlier in the year; after staffing changes, the county recruited Stradling from Mesa, Arizona. The employment agreement was approved by motion and voice vote.

Commissioners praised Bay Area First Step's services during the discussion; no member objected to the motions on the record. The actions extend housing and peer support services while adding clinical capacity via the new PMHNP hire.