County discusses need to retain therapists

Wahkiakum County officials discussed how to recruit and retain mental health professionals when they met Tuesday.

Health and Human Services Department administrators asked commissioners if they could be given flexibility to negotiate benefits to therapists as long as they stay within their funding.

"We're not here to ask for money," said department Director Sue Cameron. "We need flexibility. We're having a very hard time giving people what they need in order to retain them."

Attracting and retaining mental health therapists has become very difficult, said Mental Health Program Director Chris Holmes. Years ago, he said, he might have to recruit someone every 3-5 years.

"Now, I've had five clinical positions open at a time," he said.

Competition among program providers for therapists is fierce he said, and Wahkiakum has hurdles to overcome--people are looking for jobs for their partners; the housing market is poor; they don't like the schools; they feel there is little to do outside of work, and they don't want long commutes.

"We're not at the top of the wage scale," he said. "We've lost 2-3 people to headhunters in the last six months."

And without sufficient staff, the county's program is having a hard time providing the levels of service required by funding contracts.

"If new money or opportunities come up, we'd like to be able to take advantage of them," said Deputy Director Chris Weiler.

Timberlands Regional Support Network, which channels state mental health funding into programs in Pacific, Wahkiakum and Lewis counties, has funds which could be used, officials said.

Lisa Marsyla, a former county commissioner and now member of the Timberlands board of directors, said the agency has money to help but needs a way to have it used.

She added that Wahkiakum's mental health program is county operated while other counties contract with private, non-profit agencies for services. Those agencies aren't bound by the union contracts which govern Wahkiakum's employees or the county's need to treat all departments and employees fairly.

Commissioner Dan Cothren said the appearance of fairness is an issue that concerns commissioners.

Commissioner Blair Brady suggested the H&HS staff put their ideas in writing so they and a commissioner could discuss them with county union representatives. That could open the door to implementing them.