Great Rivers asks Pacific County to back local crisis-line provider as 988 rollout shifts

Trinidad Medina, chief executive director of Great Rivers Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization, told Pacific County commissioners on April 8 that the region's crisis-line system is shifting to make 988 the public's primary entry point while regional lines focus on dispatching in-person mobile crisis teams.

Medina said Olympic Health & Recovery Services began operating the regional crisis line for the Great Rivers region on April 1. "We procured a new provider to begin providing the service April 1," Medina said, asking the board to consider a letter of support for OHRS' application to become the fourth 988 hub in Washington State.

The request, presenters said, responds to recent state legislation they referenced in the meeting (identified in the presentation as "bill 14 77" and "bill 62 51") and a joint policy statement from the Department of Health and the Health Care Authority that directs future alignment between 988 and regional crisis services. Mandy Moore of Great Rivers' clinical team told the board that 988 will be "the primary front door for crisis services for the public," while regional lines will handle consultation and local deployments for professionals.

Drew McDaniel, CEO of Columbia Wellness, and Joe Avalos, executive director of Olympic Health and Recovery Services, argued that a locally rooted provider is better able to understand the region's geography and community needs than an out-of-region hub. McDaniel described the system's evolution since the 1970s and said the state's policy choices have pushed regions to decide whether to prioritize high-volume call answering or local, in-person response.

Presenters said the regional crisis line number will remain in use for professionals and current clients (transcript lists the number as 1808038833), and 988 will warm-transfer calls when an in-person response is required. The presenters emphasized a "no wrong door" policy so callers who still call the regional number will be served rather than bounced back and forth.

Commissioners and presenters acknowledged staffing problems for mobile crisis teams and designated crisis responders, and noted that in rural areas long travel times can create critical delays. Medina and the team offered to provide the board a template and timeline for a support letter and asked the county to coordinate with local cities and other jurisdictions to strengthen OHRS' bid.

The board did not take a vote on the request at the meeting; presenters said the Department of Health will release the 988-hub application and ASOs will be asked to make formal recommendations as part of the selection process.