Washington's Tri-Cities Region Opens First Inpatient Recovery Center

After years of planning and advocacy, the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery (CVCR) officially opened its doors in Kennewick on June 20, 2026, becoming the first inpatient behavioral health and substance use treatment facility serving Washington's Tri-Cities region. The $23 million renovation of the former Kennewick General Hospital brings 64 beds and four specialized programs to an area that has historically lacked access to residential addiction and mental health care.

Filling a Critical Gap in Regional Care

For residents of Benton, Franklin, and surrounding counties, accessing inpatient behavioral health treatment previously meant traveling significant distances—often to Yakima, Spokane, or across state lines. The Columbia Valley Center for Recovery eliminates that barrier, allowing individuals to receive intensive care while remaining connected to their families, local providers, and community support systems.

"By bringing inpatient care to the Tri-Cities, CVCR will fill a critical gap in our region's behavioral health system," said Jodi Daly, Ph.D., CEO of Comprehensive Healthcare, the Yakima-based nonprofit selected by Benton County to operate the facility. "The facility brings intensive support closer to home, so people can access care in their own community and near the family, providers and support systems that are so important to recovery."

Four Programs Under One Roof

The center launched with two of its four programs operational on opening day, with the remaining services expected to begin after final state pharmacy licensure approval:

Crisis Relief Center: Offering immediate assessment and support for adults experiencing behavioral health crises, this program provides voluntary stays of up to 23 hours and 59 minutes. The focus is on rapid stabilization and connecting individuals to appropriate ongoing care.

Crisis Stabilization Center: With 16 beds, this unit supports individuals who voluntarily consent to care and require extended stays to safely stabilize. The program provides additional time, clinical guidance, and connections to treatment and recovery resources.

Co-Occurring Residential Treatment Center: Also opening on June 20, this 16-bed unit serves individuals with both mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders. The structured, therapeutic environment supports longer-term recovery for those navigating the complex intersection of addiction and mental illness.

Secure Withdrawal Management Program: The final 16-bed unit will provide medically supervised withdrawal care, evaluation, and treatment for individuals experiencing substance use-related crises. This program will accept both voluntary clients and individuals requiring involuntary care when safety concerns necessitate higher levels of supervision.

"No Wrong Door" Access Model

CVCR operates under a "No Wrong Door" philosophy, meaning anyone can access care regardless of their specific condition, circumstances, or ability to pay. Individuals can walk in directly, contact 988 or 911, or be transported by law enforcement during behavioral health crises. This model is designed to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments while quickly connecting people to specialized behavioral health services.

"Crisis services exist to meet people in their most vulnerable moments with the level of care they need, when they need it," said Taylor Stormo, chief administrative officer at Comprehensive Healthcare. "The Columbia Valley Center for Recovery does that, while also easing the burden on emergency departments and first responders who have been invaluable partners in addressing our region's behavioral health needs."

Years of Community Investment

The facility represents the culmination of years of advocacy, fundraising, and collaboration. Benton County owns the building—the former Kennewick General Hospital, portions of which date back roughly a century—while Comprehensive Healthcare provides day-to-day operations. Key partners include the Benton Franklin Recovery Coalition, which helped shape the center's design to address the region's most urgent needs.

"Benton County is proud to partner with Comprehensive Healthcare in bringing these much-needed recovery services to the Tri-Cities," said Matt Rasmussen, Benton County deputy administrator who championed the project from concept through construction. "From the very beginning, the organization has worked closely with the County to help shape the vision and design of the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery. Their expertise and commitment have been essential to making this project a reality."

Construction began in winter 2024-25 following the $23 million renovation approval, with Bouten Construction, NAC Architecture, and MSI Engineers serving as key development partners.

What This Means for Families

For families in the Tri-Cities region, the opening of CVCR represents a significant shift in access to care. Previously, finding inpatient treatment for a loved one often meant navigating out-of-network facilities hours away, complicating family involvement in treatment and discharge planning. Now, residential care, crisis stabilization, and medically supervised withdrawal are available locally.

The center's co-occurring residential program is particularly significant for families dealing with the common combination of substance use and mental health conditions. Rather than requiring separate treatment episodes or traveling to different facilities, individuals can receive integrated care addressing both conditions simultaneously.

Looking Ahead

While the Crisis Stabilization Center and Co-Occurring Residential Treatment Center are now accepting patients, the Crisis Relief Center and Secure Withdrawal Management Program await final state pharmacy licensure before opening. Comprehensive Healthcare anticipates announcing those launch dates soon.

The Columbia Valley Center for Recovery joins a growing network of behavioral health infrastructure investments across Washington State, as communities work to address the ongoing addiction and mental health crises. For the approximately 300,000 residents of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, the facility represents not just new treatment capacity, but the possibility of recovery closer to home.

Families seeking information about accessing care at CVCR can contact Comprehensive Healthcare directly or visit CompHC.org for program details and admission information.