According to information released Monday by the Washington State Department of Commerce (DOC), the Tri-Cities is one of three locations who will benefit from a new $2.24 million dollar mental health grant.

DOC said they are partnering with Premera Blue Cross for three projects, including one in Kennewick.

Besides a project in Klickitat County and Deaconness Medical Center in Spokane, Kennewick will get a new mental health outpatient and crisis stabilization center.

The Tri-Cities project is the Three Rivers Therapy Crisis Stabilization Center. Three Rivers Therapy, located at 10505 West Clearwater, currently has a staff of at least ten nursing-mental health counselors-providers.

3 Rivers Therapy (google maps)
3 Rivers Therapy (google maps)
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DOC says $904,470 has been awarded for Three Rivers to build the new center, which will allow many more area residents to utilize mental health assistance.

DOC says the monies were awarded on a competitive bid basis, with help from the Department of Health, the Washington State Health Care Authority and the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

They are part of a five year state plan to overhaul the state's mental health system. By 2023 state mental health officials hope to end civil patient placements at the largest hospitals in the state. This practice will be replaced by these smaller, community based facilities.

The state's mental health system has been under fire for a number of years under Gov. Inslee, including the serious issues facing Western State Hospital.

No timetable has yet been announced by the Department of Commerce as to when construction will begin on the new Kennewick facility.

Officials say the partnership with Blue Cross is the first of it's kind in WA state.

 

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