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Mental health crisis center proposed

Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, WA) - 4/20/2014

April 19--BREMERTON -- It starts like this: Somebody has a crisis brought on by a mental health or substance abuse issue, or both. They may have committed a low-level crime. Sometimes it is their family who has called the police, in a desperate attempt to find help.

"We see these people repeatedly, time and time again," said Poulsbo Police Chief Al Townsend.

They don't meet the requirements for intake at Harrison Medical Center. They aren't suspected of a serious crime and locking them up may just exacerbate the problem.

"We drop them off at the hospital, and basically they are out and about before the officer gets back to Poulsbo," Townsend said.

Mental health and substance abuse treatment advocates, law enforcement and family members of those in the throes of crisis have long clamored for a better way.

And as the county considers programs on which to spend a new source of tax money for mental health services, Kitsap Mental Health on Friday proposed building a 24-hour, short-term crisis center.

Called a crisis triage stabilization center, the facility would have 16 beds and serve about 2,300 people a year. People could stay up to five days for screening, assessment and treatment. Police could refer people to the center, but so could some health care professionals. It would not function as a walk-in facility or a shelter.

Rochelle Doan, spokeswoman for Kitsap Mental Health, said there are two possible locations for the facility. One, the less expensive location, would use the jail's work release facility in Port Orchard. Another, possibly more expensive option, would be to find a building closer to Harrison in Bremerton.

Estimates of the facility say it will cost about $2.4 million a year to operate, with $700,000 to $900,000 for the first year of start up costs. If approved by the citizen advisory board and county commissioners, it could be operational by the summer of 2015.

Although Kitsap Mental Health drafted the proposal, Doan called it a "partnership proposal" between the community mental health service and law enforcement, emergency medical services, health care and drug and alcohol treatment providers.

The tax is one-tenth of one percent, or a penny on a $10 purchase, and is projected to raise about $3.3 million a year, said Doug Washburn, director of the county Department of Human Services.

A citizen advisory panel will review applications and make recommendations to the commissioners May 28. Commissioners are expected to vote June 9.

Although county commissioners have noted the triage center is a priority, it will compete with other proposals.

"I think it's going to be difficult to decide," Washburn said. "There are a lot of good proposals that have come forward. And they are all worthy."

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