Board of Health approves $119,813 contract for county crisis response program

The Washington County Board of Health voted to award a $119,813 contract to the Weigh Station of Washington County to continue a crisis response program funded with federal money administered through the state.

Earl Stoner, health officer for the Washington County Health Department, told the board the contract supports individuals who respond to behavioral-health crises outside standard business hours. "They are primarily the individuals who are responding, really 24/7 and especially during those off hours, trying to deescalate situations, working with the EMS, working with law enforcement, to try to deescalate and divert people from going to the emergency room," Stoner said.

Stoner said the program is a continuation of past work and that the department collects operational data on engagements and outcomes. When asked whether the program was lowering overall crisis numbers, Stoner said the program was "stemming the tide" and that without it hospitals would be more inundated with crisis calls; he also said the department can provide engagement and outcome data to commissioners.

Vote and implementation

A motion to approve the contract passed unanimously (5-0). Commissioners approved the award as submitted; Stoner said the program is continuing and that the department has assessments and engagement metrics that it will share on request.

Ending

The board immediately reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners after the vote; the contract award was passed without amendments at the meeting.