OLYMPIA — The budget ax is falling on a Washington state service that houses runaway teens while trying to reunite them with families or foster parents.
The Department of Social and Health Services plans to close Secure Crisis Residential Centers by Feb. 15 in Everett, Bremerton, Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Yakima.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports centers in Seattle, Vancouver, Kennewick and Spokane would close June 30.
The nine centers have a total of about 60 beds. Eliminating them will save $9.4 million in the 2009-2011 budget.
The centers serve about 3,000 teens a year. They were created in 2000 as part of the “Becca Bill,” which allows the state to temporarily hold runaways.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
