The Suburban Times

A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County.

  • Home
  • To Know
  • To Do
  • To Ponder
  • Obituaries
  • Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • More
    • Share your story
    • Submit an Event
    • Contact

Council passes legislative priorities addressing State’s closure of civil commitment beds

January 15, 2019 By Pierce County News

The Pierce County Council adopted Resolution 2019-2, 2019 legislative priorities to address the closure of civil commitment beds at Western State Hospital as recommended by the Pierce County Western State Hospital Task Force (PC Task Force). Priorities focus on community-based facilities, community-based treatment, behavioral health facilities, housing and workforce development, training and retention.

Council established the PC Task Force after the Governor’s announcement to close all civil commitment beds at Western State Hospital and concerns Pierce County is at risk of being disproportionally impacted by the reduction of beds. PC Task Force is charged with reviewing the potential impacts of the State’s decision on Pierce County, and to offer recommendations for addressing expected impacts.

“Governor Inslee wants the closure of all these beds to be in place by 2023,” said Connie Ladenburg, Pierce County Councilmember District 4. “That is around 500 people potentially being released into our community with unknown services, oversight, or a funding source. We must proactively work with our legislators on how we want to see this transition happen to reduce the impact to our community.”

Based on the PC Task Force’s review of the situation and data the 2019 legislative priorities include:

  • Community-based facilities
    • Return of all long-term, civilly committed patients discharged from Western State Hospital to their County of origin.
    • Creation of an interdisciplinary discharge planning group.
    • Capital Funding for sufficient community-based facilities.
    • Investments in criminal justice diversion facilities, programs and services.
  • Community-based treatment
    • Investments to increase the quality and quantity of community-based treatment providers.
    • Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA) treatment.
    • Healthcare laws based on the need for treatment.
  • Behavioral health facilities
    • Outpatient behavioral health facilities should support both voluntary and involuntary treatment.
  • Housing
    • Appropriate and stable housing that supports a variety of behavioral health care objectives.
  • Workforce development, training and retention

Increase peer employment.

Increase peer education incentives and planning.

Support efforts to build and retain a qualified behavioral health workforce.

The Council will forward the recommendations on to the Pierce County legislative delegation and Governor Inslee. The PC Task Force will continue to be assertive in proactively assisting the State with a successful transition strategy.

For more information on the Pierce County Council go to  www.piercecountywa.gov/council.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Related

Top Stories

  • Tacoma Housing Now Blocks Intersection with Coffins to Protest Shelter Closure
    Tacoma Housing Now Blocks Intersection with Coffins to Protest Shelter Closure
  • Fusion Bistro Asian Restaurant will open where Grassi’s operated in University Place
    Fusion Bistro Asian Restaurant will open where Grassi’s operated in University Place
  • City of Puyallup 2021 Community Survey is Open
    City of Puyallup 2021 Community Survey is Open
  • Letter: Clover Park School District Board Rolls Out “Give Six” Initiative
    Letter: Clover Park School District Board Rolls Out “Give Six” Initiative
  • Culuchi Town opening in Tacoma. Mexican sushi on the menu
    Culuchi Town opening in Tacoma. Mexican sushi on the menu

Become a better informed citizen.

Join over 30,000 readers each month and get real-local news and information direct to your inbox, Monday-Saturday.


Recent Comments

  • Joyce Loveday on Letter: Clover Park School District Board Rolls Out “Give Six” Initiative
  • Connie Coleman-Lacadie on Strengthening the Pipeline from Service to STEM
  • Joseph Boyle on Letter: Not Going Down
  • Ben Sclair on 103 new Pierce County COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths confirmed Feb. 22
  • KM Hills on Letter: Not Going Down

Contact Us

The Suburban Times
P.O. Box 39099
Lakewood, WA 98496

Ben Sclair, Publisher
253-312-1804

Stephen Neufeld, Marketing Executive
stephen@thesubtimes.com

Copyright © 2021 The Suburban Times • Log in • Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.