Pictured top row, L to R: Commissioner Nafisa Fai, Commissioner Roy Rogers, County Counsel Tom Carr. Middle row, L to R: Commissioner Jerry Willey, County Administrator Tanya Ange, Commissioner Pam Treece. Bottom Row, L to R: HHS Director Marni Kuyl, Behavioral Health Division Manager Nick Ocon, Chair Kathryn Harrington.
By show of hands, the five-member Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously votes to adopt the CATT Feasibility Study.
Staff are directed to move forward with developing the Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment
On July 20, plans for the Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment (CATT) reached an important milestone when the Washington County Board of Commissioners formally adopted the feasibility study.
This study is the culmination of two years of work by community members and staff. It outlines the need for the center, services that should be included, a high-level cost analysis and provides an implementation plan. With adoption of the study, the board provided direction for staff to move the project forward and begin searching for property to house the center.
“I couldn’t be happier!” Project Lead Kristin Burke said. “This is a big day for Washington County residents.”
High-level support for the CATT
Support for the project by the commissioners was strong and enthusiastic. “This is certainly a service we desperately need in Washington County," Commissioner Jerry Willey stated.
“We know how mental health needs and addiction can be co-present in the experiences of many individuals who might otherwise fall through the cracks,” Board of County Commissioners Chair Kathryn Harrington said. “Moving this community-developed proposal forward quickly will be a critical step toward addressing the extraordinary need for life-saving addiction treatment services in our county.”
Additional work will be needed to refine the financial analysis and develop a final plan for implementation. This work will begin immediately. The search for property will also start. Staff will develop a list of property options for the board to consider.
The project leadership team will reconvene existing workgroups and add new ones that will help keep the community engaged and informed. “This project was designed by our community, for our community,” Burke stated. “We want to ensure the center is responsive to our residents, so it’s important they are involved in this development as much as possible.”
Thank you, community participants
While there is a lot of work to be done before the center can be opened, the adoption of the feasibility study by the board is an important and exciting step forward. The project leadership team would like to thank the Board of County Commissioners and more than 180 people who have participated in the project so far. We look forward to the next phase of work!
Interested in reading the feasibility study? Find it here.
