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Committee debate centers on whether Behavioral Care Center should be on Division Street or adjacent to jail
Summary
Committee members and work group participants discussed a recommendation to locate a behavioral health campus at 2030 Division Street instead of LaBounty, and focused debate on whether a Behavioral Care Center (BCC) should be in‑custody or out‑of‑custody because that decision affects Medicaid billing, operations and who would use the facility.
Whatcom County committee members and several Division Street work group participants reported continuing planning for a behavioral health campus and said a recent recommendation to locate the behavioral care center (BCC) at 2030 Division Street rather than LaBounty has shifted the work group’s planning.
Members said the central decision is whether the BCC should operate as an in‑custody facility (adjacent to the jail) or as an out‑of‑custody, community‑based center. Hannah (committee member and presenter) and Melora (committee member) told the group that the in‑custody vs. out‑of‑custody decision is the animating question because it determines Medicaid eligibility, billing and the types of diversion possible from prosecutors and courts.
Why it matters: An out‑of‑custody BCC can seek Medicaid and other reimbursements and may be usable by prosecutors and courts for diversion while also serving the broader community. An in‑custody BCC would likely be restricted from Medicaid billing and could limit reimbursement options, which affects operational sustainability.
What was said: Work group members reported meeting every two weeks. Arlene and Tori described fundraising ideas and the need to secure operational dollars; Hannah said capital funds may be available to build or repurpose a campus but that operational funding—the ongoing costs to staff and run services—remains the most challenging question. Melora summarized that if the BCC is out of custody “there are opportunities for diversion from a prosecutor or from the courts” and for Medicaid billing; she said if it is in custody those opportunities narrow.
Local law enforcement and court structure: Lieutenant Nelson and other law‑enforcement participants raised practical concerns about multiple local court systems and victims’ voices; Lieutenant Melson and other officers confirmed monitoring and supervision options such as ankle monitoring exist but flagged funding and who would pay for expanded monitoring.
Next steps and uncertainties: Committee members said the Justice Project implementation plan and the task force’s steering committee will need to clarify whether the BCC is intended to be in custody or out of custody. Several participants suggested a hybrid approach might be considered (in‑custody treatment options for some people and out‑of‑custody diversion for others), but no formal decision was taken at the Oct. 21 meeting.
Ending: Work group members requested clearer guidance from the steering committee and the Justice Project implementation process and agreed to continue planning pending that direction.
