SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington legislators took substantial steps to reshape the mental health system, including funding for new facilities, legislation to increase the number of qualified workers and the creation of new types of treatment centers.
The work comes after years of court orders and federal inspections that meticulously documented the poor treatment of psychiatric patients in the state's care, as well as a steep shortage of treatment beds and staffers to operate them.
Eastern Washington mental health providers have made strides to increase services for those affected by these issues.
Washington state lawmakers agreed to set aside $33 million for Eastern State Hospital and Lakeland Village, a facility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Medical Lake. Most of the money will go to repairs and upkeep in the facilities.
A $12 million boiler plant construction project is planned at Eastern State Hospital. The old building would be torn down and a new one will be built.
Funding is also available to make the facility safer for patients and keep them from hurting themselves.
Million in grants will go to providers statewide. Here in eastern Washington, that includes CHAS Spokane Behavioral Health, a substance abuse facility in Colville and a new jail diversion program in Spokane called a Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Facility.
Officials said $2 million would go towards that project. The funding would add 16 beds in the Spokane area for those dealing with mental illness.
In addition to the money that has been set aside for certain facilities, providers will be able to compete for more than $47 million in grants to increase the number of people they can serve.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.