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Commissioners explore locally run juvenile mental‑health/rehabilitation option with tribal and hospital partners
Summary
Commissioners discussed exploring a freestanding juvenile facility (modeled on 'healing lodge' concepts) to keep youth closer to Cowlitz County rather than sending them out of state, and staff will pursue partner outreach including the Cowlitz Tribe and local hospitals.
A commissioner reported continuing work to evaluate options for juvenile behavioral‑health and residential services that would reduce the county’s need to place youth in out‑of‑state facilities.
“I don’t want to even go through those hoops unless I know we have a partner to run that thing,” the commissioner said, describing outreach already begun to the Cowlitz Tribe and a plan to ask the county hospital to explore partnership.
The commissioner said consultants who reviewed a freestanding option visited the Spokane “healing lodge” and other successful programs and provided a proposal to prepare a conceptual plan and cost estimate. The commissioner said she prefers a third‑party operator rather than the county running a facility and wants to secure a partner before requesting additional consultant expenditures.
Staff noted current placement options for youth with acute needs include facilities in western Washington and, when local capacity is full, placements in Utah. Commissioners said a county‑based healing‑lodge model could keep youth closer to family and reduce long transports.
Ending
County staff will continue outreach to the Cowlitz Tribe and the hospital and report back on partnership interest and feasibility; no formal decision or budget commitment was made at the meeting.
