Health department to receive funds for services, personnel

Staff of the Wahkiakum County Department of Health and Human Services had a variety of news for the board of county commissioners on Tuesday.

The board approved several contracts relating to the change in the regional organizations that channel state and federal funding into mental health and related services at the local level. State law has required a consolidation of the regional agencies, and the county is now part of the Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization.

County mental health director Chris Holmes said the change would add approximately $75,000 to county programs over the next 15 months. The money will be used to expand services and also expand the compensation packages for service providers.

"We have vacancies we can't fill because of our salaries and benefits," Holmes said. "They used to be a selling point in the past. They were thrilled to get our benefit packages. That's not the case any more.

"We're going to have to do business a different way. And if we don't deliver services, it will all go away."

Commissioner Mike Backman commented that the department will never be able to compete financially with other providers; so they should focus on making the job and working conditions as attractive as possible.

"Right," Holmes said. He added that one plan already in motion is to offer training to people just entering the profession.

"We also want to be able to help with student loans," said department director Sue Cameron. "We've got to get their attention first, then have the package."

"This is a moment in time when we can make these changes," said department financial officer Chris Weiler.

Suzanne Holmes, the county's representative on the board of the new organization, said the directors' main goal is to make sure all partners in it have resources for delivering services.

Cameron also reported that the department has received 18 complaints under the county's new junk ordinance.

They've made 15 site visits and concluded that four were invalid and 11 are valid. They've sent letters to land owners, and only three have responded.

"Anecdotally, people are starting to clean up on their own," she said. The staff is verifying that people are meeting the requirements of the ordinance.

Cameron also offered to seek funding for two Americorps positions. She had read that the board was thinking of having an Americorps volunteer work with the board of the Grays River Valley Center (GRVC), and this would be an addition to the volunteer working in the Wahkiakum Community Center in Cathlamet.

"The person would be assigned to the GRVC board of directors," she said.