County OKs public health contract amendments for nurse‑family program, domestic violence services and shelter support

Lewis County approved three contract amendments on May 20 presented by Misha Hanlon, director of Lewis County Public Health and Social Services, to continue and adjust funding for early childhood, domestic violence and shelter services.

Nurse Family Partnership: Hanlon said an agreement between Lewis County and Thurston County provides Nurse Family Partnership services that serve mothers and children through a child’s first two years of life. Hanlon identified the contract amount as $287,626.16 and said it is funded in combination through Public Health and Social Services and "through 1 tenth taxing" as presented in the packet.

Hope Alliance: Hanlon described an amendment to the county’s existing contract with Hope Alliance, the domestic violence and sexual assault provider in the community. The amendment reallocates line items and adds $35,389.71 for a new total contract amount of $199,001.81. Hanlon said the change is a line-item adjustment commonly used for reimbursement-based allocations.

Valley View Health Center: Hanlon said an amendment to the agreement with Lewis County Community Health Services (Valley View Health Center) adds $40,000 for a total maximum of $130,000 to cover contracting services related to the county’s night-by-night shelter. The amendment also authorizes services by consultant Matt Patana for exterior infrastructure needs as the project is finalized.

Action taken: The board approved deliberation items (resolutions 25-142 through 25-147), including these agreements; the motion passed 2-0.

Why it matters: These amendments fund public-health and social-service programs that provide early childhood home‑visiting, domestic violence response and temporary shelter capacity for vulnerable residents. The amounts and contract mechanisms were presented as amendments to existing agreements rather than new program starts.