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Kitsap OKs plans for mental health tax

North Kitsap Herald
Nov 29, 2021

The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners recently passed a resolution approving 2022 funding recommendations totaling $7 million, presented by the Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Therapeutic Court Citizens Advisory Committee.

A county news release says, funds generated from the 1/10th of 1% sales and use tax are designated for mental health, chemical dependency and therapeutic court services in Kitsap County.

Commissioner Robert Gelder, chair of the board, said, "This round not only provides funding continuation, but also targeted investments in new and emerging programs in our community, positioned to meet the needs of individuals with mental health and substance use challenges."

The 11-member advisory committee, appointed by the commissioners to advise on funding, voted to recommend funding for 33 of the 37 proposals submitted. The $7 million in awards is for a one-year period.

The committee evaluated 37 submissions requesting a total of $9 million, committee chair Jeannie Screws said. Each proposal took approximately one hour to review. The committee then interviewed proposers.

"The process was extremely difficult due to the needs of the community being even greater this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each proposal offered services that would greatly benefit our community," she said.

Twenty-one programs are continuation proposals from Jan 1, 2021. Ongoing funding was awarded for a variety of therapeutic court programs, including behavioral health court, juvenile individualized and drug courts, and adult drug and veterans' courts. Support for law enforcement includes crisis intervention training, hiring a crisis intervention officer to coordinate response for behavioral health calls and reentry services in the jail.

Twelve programs are new, including animal-assisted mental health counseling, intensive therapeutic wraparound services for non-Medicaid covered youth, onsite counseling at Fishline Food Bank and comprehensive services at the YWCA. Peninsula Community Health Services will provide school-based health center behavioral health services for youth.

Seven projects focus on housing for people with behavioral health issues. These include Kitsap Rescue Mission, Kitsap Homes of Compassion, Pendleton Place, Eagles Wings and West Sound Treatment Center. Kitsap Community Resources and Scarlet Road were awarded funds for specialized rental assistance for individuals with behavioral health disorders.

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