On January 9, 2024, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners approved $640,000 in Treatment Sales Tax (TST) funds over a two-year period for three community organizations to provide services in Thurston County. These awards will benefit Thurston County residents with mental health concerns or substance use disorders.

To qualify for TST funds, organizations must use evidence-based or promising practices,  demonstrating consistent and effective help for people with substance abuse disorders or mental health concerns achieve their goals.

Programs funded include:

Providence Southwest WA Mobile Health Clinic ($254,421 from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025): Funding will support a Mobile Health Clinic van that will go to a variety of rotating locations in Thurston County to provide outreach to unhoused individuals and engage them in coordinated care for mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring physical health problems.

Interfaith Works ($236,438 from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025): Funding will support the Navigation Team to provide peer advocacy, care coordination, and connection to permanent housing, primary care, and behavioral health services to individuals at Interfaith Work's Unity Commons shelter.

Family Support Center of South Sound- Housing Support for Families in Treatment Courts ($152,136 from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025): Funding will provide intensive case management and housing search support to families with children enrolled in one of Thurston County’s treatment courts.

Background:
Washington State law allows counties to collect a 1/10 of 1% sales tax to fund enhanced and expanded substance use and mental health treatment services, as well as treatment courts. Thurston County has collected Treatment Sales Tax since 2009.

TST is an important local funding stream that works alongside federal and state funding, such as Medicaid, to meet mental health and substance use needs in Thurston County. By expanding access to behavioral health treatment, TST-funded programs also aim to reduce costs related to justice involvement, emergency room use, health care, and public assistance.

For more information about the Treatment Sales Tax visit: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/tst.aspx or contact Chelyn Sowers, Program Manager, (360) 490-7363 or email at chelyn.sowers@co.thurston.wa.us