School district awarded $131,400

By Oliver Lazenby

Whatcom County Council voted to provide the Blaine school district with $131,400 in behavioral health services for the upcoming school year at an August 8 county council

meeting.

Whatcom County’s behavioral health program fund provides all seven school districts in the county with money for behavioral health services.

The Blaine school district will use the money for the following:

$73,272 to continue funding an intervention/prevention specialist and a mental health

counselor.

$37,970 for subcontracted services that could include drug, alcohol and psychological evaluations, case management, community presentations, and parent and staff trainings.

$10,558 for program supplies, training and travel.

$9,600 for stipends for members of the district’s behavioral health care team.

The money approved on August 8 is part of a four-year contract that requires new funds to be approved annually.

Whatcom County’s behavioral health fund is supported by local sales taxes.