Kira Erickson reports from the Island County Commissioners work session of Wed., Jan. 8, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times.
Island County commissioners are looking to expand the number of treatment beds in the Oak Harbor stabilization center by over 50%.
Opened in 2021, the Ituha Stabilization Facility currently has 10 beds for people experiencing a mental health crisis or issues with substance use. As previously reported by the Whidbey News-Times, the facility is often at capacity, and an additional six beds will bring it up to the federal limit set for Medicaid reimbursement.
They Said It
[Facilities Director Ryan] Beach said they were able to reduce the overall cost of the project by putting double the number of beds in rooms instead of just one. While she was excited about the cost reduction, Commissioner Jill Johnson wondered if the double beds are feasible on the treatment side of things.
“We talked about it, and I was so in love with the reduced number,” she said. “I didn’t really think through the service level piece of it. I just thought through the construction cost piece of it.”
