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Spokane County staff seek $101,000 renewal for substance-use counseling program
Summary
County staff briefed commissioners on a six-month renewal of a personal services agreement with a local provider to fund a 12-week counseling program and court-ordered assessments for people with substance-use disorder; no vote was taken at the briefing.
Spokane County staff told the Board of Commissioners on April 29 they plan to renew a personal services agreement with a local substance-use disorder (SUD) provider for $101,000 to cover January through June 2025 services.
The renewal request funds two program components: a 12‑week counseling curriculum for individual treatment and assessments and referrals the courts sometimes request. County staff said the contract would provide short-term capacity while staffing uncertainties that limited last year’s service delivery are resolved.
Staff reported the program completed 96 participants last year and received 28 requests for referrals. They said some clients do not complete the program because they are released early, are noncompliant, or continue drug or alcohol use. The staff presentation said the funding source is the county’s mental‑health sales tax.
Commissioners asked whether the county intended to fund only January through June and whether the second half of the year would be funded. Staff said that because the program had been limited by staffing layoffs earlier in the year, they proposed the first six months now and a second six‑month renewal later; if both periods were funded the annual total would be $202,000.
The briefing included praise for the program’s recent graduation ceremony and the “Breaking Barriers” curriculum; staff said the instructor is approaching her 100th class. No formal motion, vote, or contract approval occurred during the briefing; staff said they will return to the commissioners with the contract item when it is ready for formal action.
Public-health and corrections staff have previously emphasized that program completion and recidivism outcomes depend on multiple factors, including participants’ custodial status and case compliance.
