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Kitsap County approves roughly $7.85 million in state‑funded crisis behavioral‑health contracts
Summary
The board voted unanimously to approve two grant‑funded contracts with Kitsap Mental Health Services covering roughly 6,000 non‑Medicaid crisis services ($~5.4M) and about 2,600 Medicaid crisis services ($2,449,214) for 2026; county and region‑level ASO staff described expansion of endorsed mobile crisis teams and stabilizing services.
Kitsap County commissioners on March 23 approved two state‑grant contracts with Kitsap Mental Health Services that county staff said together will fund roughly $7.85 million in crisis behavioral‑health services for 2026.
Jolene Cronin, executive director of the Salish Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization, told the board the non‑Medicaid contract (KC‑066‑26) will fund approximately 6,000 crisis behavioral‑health services for low‑income or underinsured residents, running Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026. Cronin said the funding is state grant money distributed through the Washington State Health Care Authority and described the agreement as a continuation and expansion of endorsed mobile crisis teams and in‑home stabilization services.
"This is funded under the general fund from the state of Washington through the Washington State Healthcare Authority," Cronin said, describing services that include mobile crisis outreach, newly endorsed teams that began work in January, and crisis stabilization in home and facility settings.
Commissioners also approved a separate Medicaid contract (KC05726) covering the Medicaid side of the crisis system. Cronin said that contract carries a fiscal impact of $2,449,214 and covers services that last year resulted in approximately 2,600 crisis interventions in Kitsap County, serving about 1,000 Medicaid recipients.
"These are separate," Cronin said of the non‑Medicaid and Medicaid contracts. "The mobile piece there is key." County leaders described both contracts as 100% grant funded.
Commissioner Walters moved to approve the non‑Medicaid contract, and the board approved it by voice vote. The Medicaid subcontract was moved and seconded and also passed. Chair and other commissioners acknowledged the contracts as part of a regional effort to expand crisis response capacity and reduce downstream costs to the criminal justice and emergency systems.
The non‑Medicaid contract and the Medicaid subcontract will run through Dec. 31, 2026. County staff said the contracts will support mobile crisis teams, youth crisis teams, crisis stabilization supports and other outpatient and residential services for people not covered by Medicaid and for Medicaid recipients, respectively.
Next steps: county staff will execute the contracts and proceed with implementation under the stated scopes and the 2026 contract period.
