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Kittitas County approves advisory board recommendations for one‑tenth of 1% mental‑health and chemical‑dependency funding
Summary
The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 21 approved funding recommendations from the one‑tenth of 1% mental‑health and chemical‑dependency tax advisory board, including requests from CWU Community Clinic, HopeSource and local prevention programs.
The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 21 approved funding recommendations from the one‑tenth of 1% mental‑health and chemical‑dependency tax advisory board after a presentation by county public‑health staff and the advisory committee.
Casey Knudson, Kittitas County Public Health, described the item as "a request for a public hearing in December, to address the ordinance that was put into place into 2021 that has a sunset clause, that the commissioners, can choose to rescind or, remove the funding." The advisory board's District 1 representative, Pam Tuggle Miles, read the committee's recommendation letter into the record and urged commissioners to adopt the proposals.
The advisory board recommended awards to: Boys and Girls Club (STRIVE initiative); CWU Community Clinic (community counseling expansion); HopeSource (behavioral health bridge program); Kittitas County Health Network (Thrive Youth Mentoring); Peers Rising (Warmth and Wellness, resilience and life‑skills supports); Upper Kittitas County Senior Center (Access Plus); and other locally based prevention and support projects. The advisory letter cited impact, feasibility and alignment with the county's Community Health Improvement Plan as reasons for recommendation and listed average application scores for several applicants.
The CWU Community Clinic asked for $498,298 to expand counseling services and broaden the age range served. HopeSource requested $357,768 for a behavioral‑health bridge program designed to provide immediate counseling to vulnerable populations. Kittitas County Health Network requested $319,805.90 for a youth‑mentoring program; Peers Rising requested $346,309; and Upper Kittitas County Senior Center requested $117,531.38 to expand programs targeting older adults. The advisory board letter said the CWU expansion would also train future mental‑health practitioners who may remain in the county after graduation.
The board moved and seconded the motion to approve the recommendations as presented; the chair called the question and recorded the vote as unanimous among those present. The motion passed.
Discussion in the meeting emphasized that the advisory process used an RFP and scoring committee and that the awards address service gaps such as long wait times and limited services for youth and older adults. Pam Tuggle Miles said, "we believe that these proposals align with the committee's priorities and mission and warrants financial support to achieve their goals." Casey Knudson thanked community members and noted prior joint meetings with the Board of Health and the advisory committee that addressed detailed questions.
The action authorizes staff to implement the advisory board's recommendations and pursue necessary contract or grant agreements; funding details for several recommended applicants were recorded in the advisory letter and read into the record.
