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Jackson County officials say local behavioral-health services will continue after Robert Young Center ending; region transition and ASO questions remain
Summary
Jackson County officials told the Board of Supervisors on March 4 that contracts are in place to continue behavioral-health services after the Robert Young Center ended operations Feb. 28, but questions about the ASO-driven regional transition remain.
Jackson County supervisors received an update on regional behavioral-health changes and contract transitions on March 4 as the Robert Young Center ceased operations on Feb. 28.
County officials said they executed contracts with other local providers to continue services after February so there would be no gap in care between March 1 and July 1. The county’s governing board will remain active through the summer to oversee the transition, and officials said they plan to meet with the Administrative Services Organization (ASO) on March 19 to learn more about planned operational changes and staffing.
Supervisors and county managers said they want clarity about which county positions will be retained or absorbed by the ASO and how services will be managed locally going forward. Officials expressed concern that centralization of services could shift jobs and decision-making to larger population centers; they asked for a transition plan and emphasized the importance of maintaining local access to crisis response and care coordination services.
Staff reported January service numbers: county co-responders assisted 56 individuals, mobile crisis assisted 13 individuals, and care coordination assisted 30 individuals. Officials said Robert Young Center contracts were replaced with direct contracts so existing services would continue without interruption.
Supervisors said they will continue advocacy around legislative and administrative developments affecting regionalization and expected further meetings in coming months. The county will also use upcoming local events and legislative forums to raise concerns about state-level changes to behavioral-health funding and governance.
No formal board action was required during the update; supervisors instructed staff to continue monitoring the transition and report back as more details from the ASO and state become available.
