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Commissioners back exploring local support for crisis-stabilization facility RFP, urge letters and coordination
Summary
Commissioners reported a regional effort to pursue a crisis-stabilization facility under Trueblood Phase 3 funds; a private operator (Connections) indicated interest and an RFP deadline in late February; commissioners requested staff assistance drafting letters of support and exploring site, funding and local coordination.
Commissioners discussed a regional bid to create a crisis‑stabilization facility and signaled support for coordinating county assistance and letters in advance of an RFP deadline.
The update noted Thurston County is in the Trueblood Phase 3 funding region, and that the Department of Commerce released an RFP to fund crisis-stabilization facilities; the county’s representatives visited an existing model run by Connections in Kirkland and reported that Connections said it would apply to the RFP. Commissioners said the RFP deadline is in late February and that Connections’ model includes an EMS/law-enforcement drop-off entrance, a walk-in front entrance, on-site prescribing clinicians and a streamlined hand-off process intended to reduce emergency-department utilization.
Why it matters: Commissioners said a locally operated crisis-stabilization facility could reduce emergency-room drop-offs and ambulance offload delays, freeing first responders and potentially reducing strain on hospital emergency departments. Commissioners highlighted that operations funding, not just capital, must be resolved for long-term success.
Commissioner Grant (reporting from board roles on behavioral-health regional bodies) said she and a colleague visited Connections’ existing facility and described its rapid drop-off handoff times and operational workflow. She recommended that commissioners support the application through county letters and by coordinating with local health systems and municipalities to help secure operational sustainability. Grant said she had drafted materials and would send formal documents to County Manager Leonard Hernandez and staff.
Commissioners noted the funding picture for operational costs remains uncertain. The update said Connections expects some capital support (the RFP would provide approximately $4.5 million for a facility in this region, per the report), but long-term operations historically require Medicaid draw-downs, insurance billing and sometimes additional county funds. Commissioners stressed that previous proposals failed when operational funding was not secured and that the county should consider letters of support and help identify potential sites.
Requested next steps included drafting a letter of support from the board, directing staff to assist in site identification, and coordinating with local health systems and legislators to support the RFP response. The board did not take a formal vote at the check-in; the discussion resulted in direction to staff to receive the documents and to return recommendations to the board.
