Counties sue state agency over lack of behavioral health care treatment services

CHEHALIS – A coalition of 22 Washington State counties, including Lewis County, have joined the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) in filing a lawsuit against the State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) over the department’s decision to stop providing behavioral health evaluation and treatment support for certain individuals being released from jail.

When an individual with a serious mental health condition exits the criminal justice system or has their charges dismissed, DSHS is ordered by the court to offer an evaluation and if necessary, treatment. The focus is on people with severe behavioral health conditions who have not been adequately served by outpatient care.

The lawsuit contends that when DSHS fails to provide restoration services, individuals are referred to their home counties to designated crisis responders, placing the burden of care on counties despite state law requiring the state to do so. DSHS has argued that it will not follow what appears to be statutory and court-ordered legal requirements, leaving hundreds of individuals across the state to lose their chance for mental health treatment that might break the cycle of re-offense.

“The lawsuit follows repeated court order violations by the state and is filed out concern for behavioral health patients and the safety of the public,” wrote WSAC Executive Director Eric Johnson.

The coalition includes Lewis, Asotin, Clallam, Cowlitz, Douglas, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Lincoln, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Whatcom and Yakima counties.

More information on the topic is available here.