Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties consider interlocal to consolidate behavioral health contracts under Bear River Health Department

Cache County, along with Box Elder and Rich counties, reviewed a proposed interlocal agreement Tuesday that would recast Bear River Health Department as a multi‑county local health department responsible for integrated behavioral health programs and contracts.

The draft agreement would transfer responsibility for mental‑health and substance‑abuse contract administration to Bear River Health Department, create a Bear River Health Advisory Council to advise planning and operating of behavioral‑health programs, and authorize hiring a director of behavioral health to oversee integrated services. The agreement is written for a 50‑year duration and seeks to preserve continuity of existing contracts — including the county’s largest provider contract with Bear River Mental Health — so services are not interrupted.

County Health Officer Jordan (role given in transcript as Health Officer) said the reorganization “prioritizes counties’ established contracts” and would “tweak” existing agreements so state funding flows through Bear River Health Department rather than separate county arrangements. Jordan and county staff told council members the department’s immediate priorities would be: hiring the director of behavioral health, ensuring no lapse of contracts (targeting July 1), and standing up the advisory council appointed by the counties.

Council members and county counsel raised two recurring concerns: (1) the interlocal’s appointment language conflicted with state code and needs revision, and (2) counties should retain clear annual review and oversight rights. Jordan confirmed the draft obligates an annual review by the health officer and county attorney and said staff will revise the appointment language to match state law.

No formal vote was taken. Staff asked the councils to approve the corrected agreement after edits; Jordan said hiring of the director would begin only after county approvals. A resolution was prepared for a later agenda but council members requested a two‑week postponement to allow Box Elder County counsel to approve changes to the appointment language.

If approved with edits, the agreement will: centralize behavioral‑health contract administration under Bear River Health Department, require integrated mental‑health and substance‑abuse services from contracted providers, create an advisory council appointed by the three counties, and authorize the department to hire a director of behavioral health. Council members emphasized the counties will retain oversight and will be asked to advise on appointments to the advisory council before final adoption.

What’s next: staff will revise the interlocal to fix the appointment language that conflicts with state code, then return the draft and a resolution to the three counties for approval; Jordan said the department’s goal is to have contracts in place by July 1 to avoid service interruptions.