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Bothell approves $500,000 contract with North Shore YMCA for behavioral health, navigator and direct aid
Summary
The Bothell City Council on July 8 authorized the city manager to execute a contract with the North Shore YMCA to provide mental and behavioral health services, benefits navigation and limited direct aid, for up to $500,000 through Dec. 2026.
The Bothell City Council on July 8 authorized the city manager to execute a contract with the North Shore YMCA to provide mental and behavioral health services, a community resource mini‑center, benefits navigation and limited direct aid. The contract is not to exceed $500,000 for a performance period running July 2025 through December 2026.
Staff said the award follows a request-for-proposals process: city staff received four proposals and recommended the North Shore YMCA. The contract will be funded with $300,000 from the general fund and $200,000 from previously appropriated opioid settlement funds.
Why it matters: city staff cited their 2024 human-services needs assessment and public and stakeholder input identifying mental-health and substance-use disorder supports as high priorities. The contract aims to expand local access, provide a navigator to connect residents to benefits and offer limited direct aid such as transportation vouchers, rental assistance and medication for substance-use treatment.
Scope and oversight Human Services Coordinator Anand Mantri Pragada and finance analyst Miles Walker presented the contract details. Staff said the scope includes two behavioral health and substance use disorder professionals, one benefits navigator, a part‑time supervisor, administrative support and direct aid to residents (rental assistance, transportation vouchers and medications). Staff will report performance updates to council near the end of 2025 and again around June 2026.
Funding and duration The contract is capped at $500,000 for the roughly 18‑month period (July 2025–December 2026). Staff said $200,000 will come from opioid settlement funds (which the city is drawing down with multi‑year receipts) and $300,000 from the general fund. Anand said the city intends to use opioid settlement funds first where allowed but noted those funds are restricted to certain eligible uses.
Council action and comment Council member Jenny Aldrichs moved the resolution; Council member Amanda Dodd seconded. The resolution passed unanimously by the council members present: 6‑0 (Council member Jean Zorns absent and excused). Council members praised staff and partners, and Dodd said, “This is really important community care,” when urging support for the contract.
Follow‑up and next steps Staff will begin contract execution and provide the scheduled updates to council. The city will evaluate contract performance and consider options for continuity in the next biennium budget process; staff noted any continued programing beyond December 2026 would be evaluated with performance data and budget constraints.
