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BestCare reports sober‑living opening, weekend substance‑use coverage and plans to apply for CCBHC funding
Summary
BestCare told the Crook County Board of Commissioners it has opened a duplex sober‑living house (converting one side to serve women), hired two SUD counselors to enable weekend treatment hours, and intends to apply next year to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).
BestCare officials updated the Crook County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 13 about a new sober treatment residence, staff increases and a planned application for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) designation.
Melissa Thompson, BestCare’s chief behavioral health officer, said the sober house is a duplex with 10 beds (five per side) and that the agency converted one side to serve women after difficulty filling both units with men. "We have our first female moving in next week," Thompson said. She added that residents must be at least 30 days clean and sober and must be engaged in treatment with BestCare to live in the house.
Angela Cummings, behavioral health director, described workforce increases that will expand access. She said the agency recently hired two substance‑use disorder counselors, bringing the team to about six or seven counselors, and that weekend hours for substance‑use treatment are expected within about a month once new staff are familiar with agency processes and medical records.
Thompson and Cummings also described BestCare’s plan to pursue CCBHC designation. CCBHCs are a federal‑and‑state‑supported model intended to integrate behavioral and primary care services. Thompson said BestCare’s Jefferson County location already received a larger SAMHSA CCBHC grant and is pursuing state recognition; Crook County would apply as a new applicant when the state reopens the application cycle, which staff expect around January or February next year. If accepted, Thompson said the designation would provide federal and state funding and require formal coordination with Mosaic Medical, a partner in Jefferson County.
No formal action was taken by the board on the update; staff said they would return with periodic reports. Commissioners asked about logistics for co‑located primary care and how Mosaic Medical might operate in Crook County; Thompson said state requirements have changed from strictly colocating primary care in the same building but still require certain hours of co‑location for some services and that details are under negotiation.
The presentation included operational details for the sober house and workforce expansion but did not specify a projected budget for the weekend hours or the CCBHC application costs or matching requirements.
Commissioners thanked BestCare for the update and requested monthly reports.
Ending: BestCare officials said they will continue to brief the board monthly as the CCBHC application timeline and local service arrangements develop.
