Comprehensive Healthcare to Close Klickitat County Locations
By Cole Goodwin
Comprehensive Healthcare (CHC) has notified Klickitat County officials of its intent to close its two physical sites in the county, located at 112 W Main St in Goldendale, WA and 432 Tohomish St in White Salmon, WA. No specific date for the closures was provided to the County.
CCCNews has reached out to CHC for comment and clarification on timelines and impact to services.
According to their website, both facilities currently offer individual and family therapy, behavioral health assessments, substance use assessments, psychiatric assessments, medication management, case management, intensive outpatient treatment for substance use disorders, and 24-hour crisis intervention services. As well as Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) for youth.
Klickitat County Officials say they are working on possible solutions for individuals in need of services.
“Klickitat County Behavioral Health (KCBH) is currently collaborating with multiple community stakeholders and agencies to identify long term and sustainable solutions to address the current Mental Health Crisis in Klickitat County as well as exploring options for individuals who may need care in the interim,” read yesterday’s press release from Klickitat County Behavioral Health.
The news of the closure comes almost a year after CHC gave notice that they would cease to provide crisis services in the County as of August 8, 2022. At that time CHC had said the decision was a result of developments in the statewide healthcare market, ongoing staffing shortages, and a fragmentation of treatment for behavioral health and substance use disorders as reasons for ending their crisis services in the county. Up until that time they have been the sole provider of crisis services in the County since their partnership with Beacon Health Options Began in 1997.
Following the decision Klickictat County Behavioral Health (KCBH) began providing 24 hr, 7 day a week crisis services to County residents trhough Skyline and Klickitat Valley Health Emergency rooms, Klickitat County Jail, and at all Klickitat County Schools through referrals from the Crisis Line, which can be reached at 1-800-626-8137.
KCBH acknowledged that that the loss of the physical locations and the transition may be “stressful to individuals needing behavioral health services in Klickcitat County” and encouraged anyone having a mental health or substance use crisis to call 1-800-626-9137 or 988 at any time to be connected to crisis counseling.
“If someone is unable to keep themselves safe, they should go to the nearest emergency room or dial 911,” read the press release.
More information is available through Beacon Health Options, The Lifeline and 988, Kids Mental Health - Southwest Washington, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
About Klickitat County Behavioral Health
Klickitat County Behavioral Health is committed to the wellness of individuals, their families, and the community through prevention, intervention, treatment, and education. Our vision is to improve the lives of those living with mental illness or addiction by providing services that are supportive of individuals and their families. We strive to provide an emotionally supportive and helpful environment necessary to improve the quality of life for all Klickitat County residents.
For More Information please visit Beacon Health Options or The Lifeline and 988.
