The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has revised its earlier plan to fully assume operations of Columbia River Mental Health Services and will now take over only the nonprofit’s opioid treatment program.
On July 10, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe announced it would take over Columbia River Mental Health Services to address the financial challenges that had forced the nonprofit to scale back some services earlier this year. That takeover would have dissolved the nonprofit, Southwest Washington’s oldest behavioral health provider.
But in an Aug. 4 memo to the Office & Professional Employees International Union Local 11 — which represents about 90 Columbia River employees — CEO Craig Pridemore said the organizations had instead agreed to an “alternative framework.” Under the new plan, Columbia River Ment