Spokane Mental Health Gets Contract

Sat., June 1, 1996

From Staff And Wire Reports

Mental health services in Spokane will continue to be coordinated by a single non-profit agency for at least three more years.

Spokane County commissioners voted unanimously to renew the county’s contract with Spokane Mental Health.

Commissioners opened the contract to competitive bidding this year for the first time since 1968.

“We believe this is a good decision for the community,” said David Panken, chief executive officer at Spokane Mental Health.

The private organization employs 450 people and has an annual budget of about $17 million, most of which is state and federal money.

About $12 million of that passes through the county, which determines which agency gets it.

The new, three-year contract begins July 1.

Spokane Mental Health will soon accept bids for outpatient mental health services, such as counseling.

, DataTimes

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