County staff seeks renewal of BestCare subcontract as public‑health IGA awaits updates from OHA

County staff asked commissioners to support renewing the county's subcontract with BestCare so the vendor can continue recruitment and placement of behavioral‑health providers at the Skobate school‑based health center. Staff and a public commenter said recruitment has been difficult, service levels were limited last school year, and carryover grant funds from the prior fiscal year are available to support placement and retention efforts.

Staff explained that the BestCare subcontract flows from an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) contract for community mental health programming. A recent change splits suicide‑prevention and postvention funding that was historically routed through Deschutes County into individual county contracts; that adjustment and other funding line items mean the county’s Amendment 10 with OHA was released before the agency closed its books and does not yet reflect rolled‑over funds. Staff said additional amendments are expected to align program funding with the county’s actual allocations.

Why it matters: commissioners signaled support for continuing funding and subcontracting to preserve services in local schools while staff explores recruitment options and any alternative providers. County staff emphasized recruitment and retention as the main barrier to full service coverage.

What happens next: staff will pursue the subcontract renewal with BestCare, continue recruitment efforts, and monitor forthcoming OHA amendments to reconcile the county’s funding levels.