[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6372159,"mediaKeyId","2148425-0c287618b8f2f7b53c5201d615962413","parentId",2148425,"title","Spokane County opens RFP for youth caregiver respite and expands crisis stabilization coverage to 350% FPL","audioSeconds",319,"startMs",2257000,"endMs",2576000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2148425-0c287618b8f2f7b53c5201d615962413&start=2257&end=2576","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2148425-0c287618b8f2f7b53c5201d615962413/thumbnail_2257000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6372159/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-County-opens-RFP-for-youth-caregiver-respite-and-expands-crisis-stabilization-coverage-to-350-FPL","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372159-7315e06b53820185465aec642d21fde5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198177&Signature=G~cIIOzkMDNPjQvIvgXsQMl7ebpD3Djq6ROA-lBRufb~G5O5wMZuyGZk0CE88sZt-aI5hXSDHMPC0XeaDgD9fB1Yzi8AidL9VB-qOU1VZBvfgllb1ULWvsFuiqLp4kIEvfi3yxMOedhKo-K-Rzmp1x2R1ccNfBGBnnq1cE2sEBbfH5~-KCXT8Xw4UPeWU7nUeAYP~v1-tEVHDpYHAzqOcHxfdBGAibzLRsASRjO7IaZIyOKrNaJDWfqxusq5SzHQgLqU9-ZCMLD56YGyqgITQXbnCMbfuwh0zaV~~hSF2BCpSCzfRQXyKdT-BbIo6bWxB21~PepJpTJsdXOFtZTRhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane County, WA","date","2025-01-24T17:58:40Z","article","Spokane County announced a request for proposals (RFP) for youth and adolescent caregiver respite services and described a policy change to expand access at the Spokane Regional Crisis Stabilization Center.

Jessica Thompson, reporting on program updates, said the county opened an RFP on Nov. 20 for caregiver respite services intended to provide a supervised, trauma‑informed setting for youth ages 10 to 17. The RFP closes Dec. 18. \"These services are all supervised by a mental‑health professional,\" Jessica Thompson said, describing planned respite slots that mirror the county’s prior model and offering 48 hours per month per use.

Separately, Ashley McGee described a planned expansion of funding at the Spokane Regional Crisis Stabilization Center to cover individuals who are not Medicaid‑eligible but fall between 220% and 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL). That change is intended to reduce insurance‑related barriers to stabilization, withdrawal management and co‑occurring inpatient care and is slated to start at the beginning of the new year.

Why it matters: the youth respite RFP would restore a community service that county staff said previously existed and is intended to prevent escalation to higher‑intensity care by offering families short‑term, therapeutic respite. The expansion to 350% FPL broadens access to crisis stabilization for uninsured or underinsured residents who previously fell outside county funding eligibility.

Program details and next steps: the youth respite RFP accepts proposals for facility‑based or in‑home models and looks for trauma‑informed programming; the county will review proposals after the Dec. 18 closing date. County staff said they will track impact data after expanding the Spokane Regional Crisis Stabilization Center eligibility and will share results with the BHAB.

The board did not take a formal vote on either the RFP or the FPL expansion during this meeting; staff presented the items as administrative updates and implementation planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BHAB Audio Visual Recording 11 25 2024","oneSentenceSummary","The county announced a request for proposals for youth and adolescent caregiver respite (ages 10–17) and plans to expand coverage at the Spokane Regional Crisis Stabilization Center so non‑Medicaid residents up to 350% of the federal poverty level can access services.","taxTitle","Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2643,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6372164,"Spokane County details $2.2 million in opioid investments and plans for a crisis relief and sobering center",661,1378000,2039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2148425-0c287618b8f2f7b53c5201d615962413&start=1378&end=2039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2148425-0c287618b8f2f7b53c5201d615962413/thumbnail_1378000.jpg","/articles/6372164/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-County-details-22-million-in-opioid-investments-and-plans-for-a-crisis-relief-and-sobering-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372164-c8be444cf6faaf7b9095735c525d9191/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198177&Signature=KmIXCJWWlCfdMElEWXm2DQLot0R4FkTkbeIWCrYd3KrEb-liruBeNodFZT4Py17CT7RTvF3xBNEEzN3vvhiEadHrwwsPlOnLQfejPOUXzgaOMD5FRIk8DKf4~OYSsNJUcZYTP90On4XcP1oz5acdAUXgBwCp6Bhr446m42qI0EDMkB5bXhMX8071DE-l~y~4P-Q5ZZ1imF~bjOFeLAs3fJb6Nu7F~trKnxDM0OAQoUiJOUSeJ4-~neIRtFvd5JRN0pfDrlLdgyI29ToEwIdLAynL0X70OLDCtDU7JtYudXhkb8DexoB-~DVXLr3Mj0HE~ku0aCLVUxgsF5Ful4jaaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spokane County staff provided a detailed update on how the county is spending opioid‑response funds, including $2.2 million already allocated to a mix of immediate services and longer‑term infrastructure.

Justin Johnson, speaking for Spokane County, said the board approved funding to develop a crisis relief and sobering center that the county expects to bring online in late 2026 or early 2027. \"We are heavy involved in building out this facility. That will bring on board at minimum 24 beds to allow for walk in immediate service,\" Johnson said, describing the center as a walk‑in alternative to emergency departments and law‑enforcement drop‑offs.

The county is also pursuing purchase of an existing facility now operated by STARS (a local withdrawal management provider) to stabilize and expand triage, sobering and withdrawal management capacity. County staff said STARS currently operates a location that will receive renovation funding to add sobering and possibly residential services. The county described a planned soft launch of some beds in the near term as staff are hired and licensed.

Johnson said the county is investing in a range of complementary programs: neonatal abstinence and transitional housing supports (Maddie's Place), expansion of same‑day access to medication‑assisted treatment through partner clinics, and upstream prevention including a $2 million investment in SBIRT (screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment) for schools. \"We're on track to hit 1,000 students engaged that would not have otherwise been if we had not started this program for school year 2025,\" Johnson said.

County staff described new operations to pair law enforcement outreach with medical clearing and mobile behavioral health response. Johnson said the county will fund a co‑response unit that pairs firefighters and behavioral‑health providers for street engagements, and that partnerships with the sheriff's office will emphasize targeted prevention based on street data.

Local advocates at the meeting expressed urgency about street conditions and the need for rapid treatment access. A community member, Shane, described frequent overdoses and encouraged continuing street outreach and naloxone distribution.

The county said some city opioid dollars remain to be allocated and that the city and county continue to discuss joint investment opportunities for the STARZ facility and other projects.

Next steps: staff said procurement and renovation work is underway for the triage and withdrawal site, hiring is in progress for the soft launch of beds, and the county will continue community engagement and coordination with the city and SRHD.","County staff described how opioid dollars are being used to build a crisis relief and sobering center, expand triage and withdrawal management services (STARZ), invest in neonatal abstinence supports, and scale school‑based screening programs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6372168,"Spokane County board to weigh whether regional health district should spin off substance-use treatment",385,309000,694000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2148425-0c287618b8f2f7b53c5201d615962413&start=309&end=694","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2148425-0c287618b8f2f7b53c5201d615962413/thumbnail_309000.jpg","/articles/6372168/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-County-board-to-weigh-whether-regional-health-district-should-spin-off-substance-use-treatment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372168-72f51b9c0f6986109f451595796e024e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198177&Signature=XgBNMB3wkjJq9oFfgxCLePm5U1jBZgtgfJljreuWHXdSm25252cf6LNYunxQZORXlRne1-Q3xfoog5gldo9eyHQbSM5kRT6M0ky3E54WVHFc3-fkyc9iqXuS~upresvBhvTCqcYuK7x4yynVmhQmpCR80CBUxfLfYvPLETYbKbQKBCTOCIjeSSc4P2fWYHVg2yxB4tTQU3uhqrLFFlvZSrpz2-v2N3mOL4MyJkaQJ6mFJ34Kr0ydyjo5VQJAuiukhfbM4qL2ydalBYLApnemffBuCFt4TusDn1IP46cL-wWWlO7dNWyMCFGN~jlotBP8NDSl9jADC8zqMJCao4MW9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spokane County officials outlined an information‑gathering process being led by the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) on whether the district should transfer its substance‑use treatment services to another provider or keep them inside the regional health district.

The discussion matters because SRHD currently operates one of the county’s main opioid treatment programs (OTPs), including medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and jail‑based treatment services. Justin Johnson, speaking for Spokane County, said the district is at an early stage of exploring whether prevention and broad public‑health functions should remain under SRHD while treatment services could be provided by a separate entity.

\"The question that has recently come up ... should those two things be separate and spin off treatment services to another provider who could focus entirely on that, and [SRHD] can focus directly on their mandate as the regional health district,\" Johnson said. He added that the county board, which appoints a majority of the SRHD board members, will receive community feedback and could vote next week on whether to continue exploratory discussions.

Why it matters: SRHD provides walk‑in and managed‑care coverage for MOUD and operates reentry and jail‑treatment programs. Any change could affect how continuity of care is managed, how referrals are routed and which organization holds operational responsibility for treatment programs.

County staff emphasized that the conversations are preliminary. \"So I don't see any indication this would ... have any immediate changes based on our conversations,\" Johnson said, noting that further steps would require a full SRHD board vote and a lengthy planning process if pursued.

Local service providers and advocates at the meeting urged caution. Gail Cogel, acting ombuds for the Office of Behavioral Health Advocacy, described clients who have long tenures with SRHD programs and urged sensitivity to continuity of case management during any transition. A community member identified as Shane described ongoing overdoses and street outreach needs and urged preserving services that reach people on the street.

Next steps: SRHD’s board is scheduled to meet next week; county staff said that meeting could result in a decision to stop exploratory conversations or to request more extensive planning. Johnson said that if the SRHD board opts to explore a separation, any formal change would still require additional votes and an extended implementation process.

Administrative note: the BHAB approved the meeting minutes at the start of the session by voice vote.","County staff outlined an ongoing review by the Spokane Regional Health District on whether to separate its treatment services from its prevention and population-health functions and said a regional health district board meeting next week could pause or continue exploratory conversations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Spokane County opens RFP for youth caregiver respite and expands crisis stabilization coverage to 350% FPL

Spokane County details $2.2 million in opioid investments and plans for a crisis relief and sobering center

Spokane County board to weigh whether regional health district should spin off substance-use treatment