After nearly a decade of planning, a new mental health and detox facility opened its doors to patients in Whatcom County on January 4.
The Crisis Stabilization Center will replace the Whatcom County Triage Center as the only facility of its kind in the county for treating those experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises. The new center at 2026 Division Street in Bellingham adds an additional 12,000 square feet and 19 beds compared to the old facility.
The 24,450-square-foot center will be split into two 16-bed sides, one for mental and behavioral health stabilization and the other for substance withdrawal and detox. The mental health services will be managed by Compass Health and the detox side will be run by Pioneer Human Services.
Patients at the facility will receive 24/7 nursing and most are expected to stay between three and five days. Upon discharge, patients will be provided ongoing treatment options focused on recovery.
The center cost $12.5 million; the state Department of Commerce provided $7 million, the North Sound Behavioral Health Organization contributed $2.5 million and the county’s behavioral health fund contributed the remaining $3 million. Blaine Police Department sergeant Michael Munden said the center provides an alternative to incarceration and will help those experiencing behavioral health crises seek treatment as an alternative to the county jail system.
“As state-run behavioral health facilities have closed, more and more people with behavioral health issues are homeless and unable to care for themselves,” he said.
The increased capacity is also expected to reduce the number of individuals seeking treatment at PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The center will primarily serve those seeking voluntary treatment. Currently, the center is not allowed to involuntarily hold patients, but Compass Health is working on getting a certification to allow holds up to 12 hours for behavioral crises. Holds will not be used on the detox side.
Whatcom County Council identified the increasing need for the stabilization center in 2015, and made it a key priority of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, according to the county website. Jack Hovenier, co-chair of the task force, said the county started funding the project a decade ago but construction was delayed due to uncertainty on how the county would provide long-term funding for staff and maintenance, as well as how to cover costs for individuals needing care without insurance.
The facility’s goal is to not turn anyone away, Hovenier said. This means state funding will be needed to provide services to those who do not qualify for Medicaid or cannot afford it.
“Study after study suggests the time to help someone stop using is when they’re motivated to do it,” he said. “If you tell someone, ‘Great, we will help you detox in three days,’ the odds of them returning aren’t that high. Having the capacity to meet people at the time they’re ready to stop is huge.”
Despite the increase in facility capacity, Munden said he expects availability will continue to be an issue.
“The sad fact is every community in Whatcom County faces this issue, so we will all be competing for space,” he said. “Often this means we are only able to help those who are clearly not capable of caring for themselves or that pose a danger to themselves or the community.”
Long-term funding assurance for the facility, beyond a few years, is not guaranteed, Hovenier said. However, he said he is optimistic Whatcom County will find a way to fund the facility, given the wide support from the county government and county executive Satpal Sidhu.
“Most studies indicate when you spend money on these services, the social good more than pays off the investment you make,” he said. “It’s smart public policy, and it’s compassionate, but it’s also quite practical in terms of minimizing harm to the rest of society.”
To access the center’s services, call 360/676-2020.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here