Gov. Jay Inslee visited with local leaders at the Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment in Wenatchee. Among those people joining the governor were several county officials representing the Commissioners Office, Sheriff’s Office and our housing and behavioral health programs.
The governor was here to tour the Center, which is asking for $20 million from the state to provide expanded treatment services and benefits to residents from across the state. The Center, which provides both in-patient and out-patient services, seeks funding for land and the construction of a larger facility to better address the needs of the people in our area.
In addition, the county is asking for $1.2 million in federal dollars for a feasibility study that will look at finding a location where the Center and a new regional diversion facility will work side by side. A four-county effort is underway to stand up such a facility, which would divert people with mental health or severe substance use disorders out of the jail system and into a clinical environment. Eventually, the workgroup, which consists of leaders and professionals in Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan and Grant counties, will ask for $25 million to build such a facility.
Friday was a time for the governor to learn about these two important projects and how they will better serve the needs of North Central Washington. Gov. Inslee asked a lot of questions and listened to a lot of folks. It was a great event!
Original source can be found here.
