Behavioral‑health updates: Columbia Valley Center operations, field responder program and youth texting‑therapy grant discussed

County staff and commissioners reported on behavioral‑health initiatives on Jan. 8, including operations planning for the Columbia Valley Center For Recovery, discussions about a joint field responder program with Benton County, and a technology‑based texting therapy pilot for teens and young adults.

County Administrator Eric Johnson said Benton County is working on an operations agreement for the Columbia Valley Center For Recovery and that separate discussions will consider whether the county will contribute to operations in addition to construction funds. Johnson said a field responder program is under discussion and could be structured as a joint program with Benton County or as separate agreements for each county.

Johnson also described a $50,000 grant for a texting therapy program targeted at teens and young adults; he said Benton County plans to match that grant but Franklin County’s participation was not decided at the meeting. The program was identified in the transcript as the "June texting therapy program" (spelled in the meeting as "j o 0 n").

Staff said the Columbia Valley Center For Recovery construction is underway and that a construction tour could be scheduled when drywall is installed — staff estimated drywall might be in place by March. Commissioners and staff suggested workshops and briefings to better understand program operations, funding sustainability and how to coordinate county advisory committee reporting to the board.

No formal county commitments to new operating agreements or grant matches were approved at the Jan. 8 meeting.