August 21, 2024
Skagit County Breaks Ground on Crisis Stabilization Center Expansion
On Monday, August 12th, Skagit County celebrated the groundbreaking for the Crisis Stabilization Campus expansion on State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley. The Skagit County Commissioners were joined by the North Star leadership team and advisory group members, local state legislators, healthcare providers, and other community partners to acknowledge the years of collaboration that led to the new facility.
The Crisis Stabilization Campus expansion was made possible by collective advocacy from members of the North Star initiative, a public-private partnership between Skagit County, our four local cities, housing and healthcare providers, first responders, and other community leaders. Skagit County is thankful for the support of our state legislators in Districts 39, 40, and 10, who successfully advocated for $17 million in funding to support the expansion. An additional $5.8 million was secured from the Washington State Department of Commerce to fully fund the project.
The addition of the new facility is the second phase of the Crisis Stabilization Campus. The first phase, the North Sound Evaluation and Treatment Center (E&T), was completed in 2022 and neighbors the new facility. The E&T Center provides 16 beds for involuntary mental health crisis stabilization and prepares individuals to return home or to other community-based programs. The second phase of the campus was modeled after the Spokane Regional Stabilization Center and will provide 48 new voluntary, inpatient beds – 16 crisis stabilization beds, 16 acute detox beds, and 16 co-occurring treatment beds. The expansion facility is expected to open in late 2025.
At the groundbreaking, Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki announced the new name for the campus, the Skagit STAR Center, which stands for Stabilization, Treatment, and Recovery. The Skagit STAR Center includes both the first phase, the E&T Center, and the second expansion phase facility.
“Having a safe and compassionate place for people to go when they are experiencing a mental health crisis or needing withdrawal management services is essential for supporting health and recovery,” said Peter Browning, Chair of the Skagit Board of County Commissioners. “The Skagit STAR Center fills gaps in our community’s behavioral health continuum of care and will improve connections to other treatment supports in our region.”
The Skagit STAR Center is the first of its kind in Skagit County providing law enforcement and first responders a place to drop off community members in need of acute mental health treatment and substance use detox. The facility will be a meaningful and more cost-effective alternative to the emergency and jail, relieve the burden on essential public services, save taxpayer dollars, and ensure people receive immediate treatment when they need it most.
“The North Star team is proud to be able to provide the Skagit STAR Center to our community to better support patients in need of acute care,” said Ron Wesen, Skagit County Commissioner.
To learn more about North Star, visit www.northstarskagit.org.
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