$453,000 grant to expand behavioral health in county

Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare (OBHC) has been notified by Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office that the agency has been selected to receive almost $453,000 in federal aide to allow the organization to expand access to and improve behavioral health services in Okanogan County, including services for substance/opioid use disorders.

“We are especially grateful for this funding because it comes at a time when we are seeing increased need for behavioral health services, especially with the added stressors of Covid-19,” said Dennis Rabidou, chair of the OBHC Board of Directors. “It will help us not only accommodate the increased need; it will help us improve our ability to serve our most vulnerable community members.”

The funding, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grant, will will be used to help expand mental health and substance-use-disorder outpatient treatment, including counseling, case management, life skills training, treatment, prevention, education, and supportive housing assistance for those who are uninsured/underinsured. It will also allow expansion of supportive services provided by Highland Clubhouse to those living in recovery from mental health and substance/opioid use disorders and those with developmental disabilities.

More information about services provided by OBHC is available online at www.OKBHC.org, or by phone at (509) 826-6191, toll-free (866) 826-6191, or via TTY at (509) 826-2113.