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Commissioners discuss exploring a local "healing lodge" option for youth; tribal and hospital partnerships sought
Summary
Commissioners discussed exploratory work on whether the county could offer a locally based juvenile treatment or 'healing lodge' instead of sending youths out of county or state, and said staff will pursue conversations with the Cowlitz Tribe and local hospital while seeking a partner to operate any facility.
Commissioner discussion turned to the county juvenile center and whether a locally based treatment model — described by commissioners as a "healing lodge" model used elsewhere — could provide an alternative to sending juveniles to out‑of‑county or out‑of‑state placements.
Commissioners said an earlier review showed substantial costs to repurpose the existing juvenile facility and that any further design or planning work should wait until a potential operating partner is identified. The county received a proposal from the same team that prepared the juvenile center plan to produce a concept rendering and asked for clarification that the county should not spend further on design work until it can identify a partner to run or co‑manage operations.
Next steps: Commissioners directed staff to contact the Cowlitz Tribe and the local hospital about potential partnership and to return with an update. Commissioners said a third‑party (noncounty) operator would be preferable; the board expressed support for further exploratory work and booked follow‑up outreach but made no formal commitment to building or operating a facility.
Ending: Commissioners emphasized the priority would be Cowlitz County youth first but noted that if capacity exists the facility could accept referrals from other jurisdictions. No funding or contract actions were taken; staff will report back when outreach yields potential partners.
