Franklin County commissioners discuss future of mental health services

Franklin County commissioners discussed at a board meeting Wednesday the possibility of privatizing mental health care in the Tri-Cities.

The talk came a day after Benton County commissioners indicated they want to form a committee to plan how mental health services would be offered in the area.

Both counties offer mental health care through the human services department, which is a bicounty agency.

The commissioners directed Administrator Keith Johnson to meet with Benton County Administrator David Sparks, with the hope of assembling a group of providers, patients and patients’ families to develop a care plan.

The goal would be to gather more input and information to develop the best plan for the future of mental health care in the area, said Commissioner Brad Peck.

“I think this is one area we could consider for privatization, but I think it’s at best premature to make that determination,” Peck said. “I believe we have a duty to ask the stakeholders and the people who are subject matter experts for their advice.”

Commissioner Rick Miller would like to see a bicounty meeting to talk about privatization, something he doesn’t think will happen due to apparent opposition from his fellow commissioners, he told the Herald.

Miller is concerned, he said, that Franklin County could be left out of a mental health care plan if it doesn’t move forward with Benton County.

“Benton County is going to go on their own way,” Miller said. “They will hire all the good people and then we will be stuck.”

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Franklin County commissioners discuss future of mental health services."