Behavioral Health Facilities Program

Behavioral Health Facilities grants establish new behavioral health service capacity through acquisition, renovation or new construction of real property.

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Our Program

The Behavioral Health Facilities (BHF) program aims to support community providers in expanding and establishing new capacity for behavioral health services in local communities.

Commerce’s BHF program funding opportunities include:

• Competitive grants to eligible organizations
• Direct appropriations from the Legislature

Funding Availability Information

The BHF program funding is open to eligible organizations who are either a community hospital or a community based behavioral health provider. Applicants must be either a nonprofit, for-profit, local government or a Tribe. Nonprofit and for-profit business applicants must be registered in the State of Washington. Funded projects must be able to meet all applicable licensing and certification requirements under specific RCWs and WACs pertaining to the behavioral health services proposed in the facilities to which the funding will be applied.

Grants made by the BHF program are for reimbursement of capital projects only. Capital costs include acquisition, design, engineering, construction and capitalized equipment associated with establishing behavioral health facilities. All funded projects must result in an increase in capacity for community-based behavioral health care.

2023-2025 Non-Competitive Funding

The Behavioral Health Facilities (BHF) Closure Prevention Program began accepting applications on February 12 for capital projects to preserve behavioral health facilities through critical repairs or upgrades necessary to keep the facility in use. This funding will be awarded on a first-come, first served basis until funds are exhausted with no funding cap up to $7,500,000.

Please review the Closure Prevention Overview, Notice of Funding Opportunity, and Program Guidelines if you are considering applying for a BHF grant:

Your application must be submitted through Smartsheet. 

2023-2025 Competitive Funding Rounds

Behavioral Health Facilities Funding Availability

Regional Needs$28,443,000
Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities$24,000,000
Children & Minor Youth$18,000,000
Closure Prevention$7,500,000

The Behavioral Health Facilities (BHF) funding rounds for Regional Needs, Children & Minor Youth, and Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities (IBHTF) opened for applications on December 12, 2023. Grant funds can be used for new construction, renovation and acquisition. Funded capital projects must result in an increased number of beds or increased outpatient capacity, depending on facility type. The competitive funding round is open to nonprofits, for-profit businesses, public entities, and tribes who are either a community hospital or a community-based behavioral health provider.

Here are the open and closing dates:

  • Applications opened on December 12, 2023.
  • Pre-applications were due on January 29, 2024 at midnight.
  • Final applications were due on February 12, 2024 at midnight.

Please review the Program Guidelines, Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) if you are considering applying for a BHF grant:

Your application must be submitted through ZoomGrants:

Technical assistance is available by reaching out to us at BHFInquiry@commerce.wa.gov between Tuesday, December 12, 2023 and Thursday, February 8, 2024.

Recorded Informational Sessions and PowerPoints

In January 2024, Commerce and our partners at the Health Care Authority, the Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Health, will hold three live informational sessions to answer questions about the grant opportunities. Links to the video recordings and PowerPoints are provided below.

2023-2025 Behavioral Health Facilities Competitive Funding Rounds Children and Minor Youth:

2023-2025 Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facility Funding (IBHTF):

2023-2025 Regional Needs Funding:

Competitive Grants Status

The 2021-2023 Adult and Child Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and the Children and Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP) competitive rounds were closed at 5 pm on June 30, 2023. We anticipate making award announcements in September, 2023.

The Fall 2021 competitive funding round award notifications have been submitted to successful and non-successful applicants from funding appropriated by the Legislature in the 2021-23 biennium. Commerce awarded $69 million to 34 successful applicants that will further the goals for community-based behavioral healthcare across the state and create 466 new beds and other outpatient services. More information on awarded projects will be posted in the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees. 

Commerce awarded $2 million in the Spring 2021 BHF-Premera Blue Cross Crisis Stabilization competitive funding round, to two successful applicants that will create more community-based care options for rural clients seeking behavioral health crisis stabilization. For more information about awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees.

Commerce awarded $2.24 million in the Winter 2020 BHF-Premera Blue Cross Crisis Stabilization competitive funding round, to three successful applicants that will create more community-based care options for rural clients seeking behavioral health crisis stabilization. For information about the awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees.

Commerce awarded $33.8 million in the Spring 2020 competitive funding round, to 22 successful applicants that will create new beds and outpatient services. For information on awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header funding Round Awardees.

Commerce awarded $36.2 million in the Fall 2019 competitive funding round, to 24 successful applicants from across Washington, helping to create additional new beds and outpatient services for community-based behavioral health care. For information on awarded projects, see the list in the right-hand column under the header Funding Round Awardees.

Trueblood Crisis Stabilization and Triage Competitive Grant Status

Trueblood is an active lawsuit that challenged unconstitutional delays in competency evaluation and restoration services.

In the 19-21 biennium, Commerce received $2 million for one or more crisis triage and stabilization facilities to add 16 beds in the Spokane region. We awarded $1.96 million of that funding to Spokane County to help fund a new 32 bed facility that is expected to open in later this summer/fall 2021. These beds will address both urban and rural needs, consistent with the Trueblood vs. DSHS Settlement Agreement and Implementation Plan. Click here for the press release.

In the 21-23 biennium, Commerce received $12 million for two 16-bed crisis triage and stabilization facilities in the King County region. Projects must be consistent with the settlement agreement in A.B, by and through Trueblood, et al., v. DSHS, et al. No. 15-35462. In the Fall 2021 funding round, we awarded $2.5 million to a 16-bed facility planned for Federal Way. In the Spring of 2022 another funding round opened and we recently awarded $4.2 million to the second 16-bed facility that will be sited in King County.

2021-23 Behavioral Health Facilities Funding

Funding CategoryAwarded AmountNumber of Projects Awarded
90/180 Day Civil Commitments$10,182,8524
Children and Minor Youth$7,222,8005
Crisis Stabilization$23,415,7397
Dementia Care$4,425,0003
Enhanced Services Facilities$12,225,9996
Intensive Behavioral Health$14,338,5006
Peer Respites$2,070,0002
Regional Needs$6,984,0003
Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization$1,940,0001
Trueblood$6,700,0002
Direct Appropriation$71,244,14020
TOTAL$160,799,03059

2021-23 Behavioral Health Facilities Competitive Awardees

2021-23 Behavioral Health Facilities Funding

Behavioral Health Model Ordinance Project

In addition to funding capital grant projects, Commerce is leading a project to develop local siting guidance for community-based behavioral health facilities.

Related Law

Program Guidelines, FAQs and Information

Funding Round Awardees

Program Reports

Questions about our program? Email us:

BHFInquiry@commerce.wa.gov
Grant Application, Management, and Capital Facilities Contracts

Behavioral Health Technical Assistance

Health Care Authority

Contact: HCABHFacilities@hca.wa.gov for help with:
Health Care Rates and Finance
and these behavioral health facility types:

  • 90- and-180-day Civil Commitment Facilities
  • Child & Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP)
  • Crisis Triage / Crisis Stabilization Facilities (CSU)
  • Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities (IBHTF)
  • Mental Health Peer Respites
  • Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization Facilities (SWMS)
  • Trueblood Phase 2 – Crisis Stabilization and Triage Facilities

Department of Social and Health Services

Aging and Long-Term Support Administration
Facility types:

  • Enhanced Services (ESF)
  • Specialized Dementia Care Program (SDCP)

Contact:
Home and Community Services, Office of Community Transitions
Resource Support and Development Unit
ResourceDevelopment@dshs.wa.gov

Department of Health

Community Health Systems

Contact:
Dan Overton, Inpatient/Residential Behavioral Health Facilities Program Manager
Dan.Overton@doh.wa.gov
Phone: 360-236-2953
Cell: 564-201-0579

Facility Fact Sheets & Toolkits:

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