Columbia River Mental Health Services announced Thursday that it has hired Craig Pridemore to be the nonprofit’s interim CEO.

Pridemore has deep experience in Southwest Washington and in the nonprofit. He was most recently the agency’s CEO from 2014 to 2020. He’s also a former Washington state senator and a Clark County commissioner.

He’s taking over at the mental health provider during a difficult time. In late March, Columbia River Mental Health Services abruptly closed three sites in Clark County and furloughed staff. Pridemore said they were facing a nearly $6 million budget gap between past debts and expenses.

“After they had even depleted their cash on hand, they continued to spend money and then simply not pay the bills for them,” Pridemore said. “So those built up to a significant amount.”

In response, the nonprofit’s board decided to suspend services at several sites in Clark County, according to COO Kelly Ferguson.

“The board was clearly raising questions about it for some time, certainly for the past two years,” Pridemore said. “It can be said that they didn’t take action sooner to really force the issue and require them to get the revenue and expenses back in line.”

According to Columbia River Mental Health Services, the nonprofit provides mental health and substance use treatment to approximately 5,000 people per year, the vast majority of whom use the low-income health insurance Medicaid. Former CEO Victor Jackson resigned in recent weeks amid the financial turmoil.

After operations were paused in Hazel Dell, Vancouver and Battle Ground, the agency transferred patients to other local providers. The organization’s NorthStar opioid treatment center has remained open.

Pridemore said with more control over costs, the agency can break even. He expects health care staff will start returning as soon as next week, though administrative staff may remain furloughed for longer.

Pridemore declined to provide specific details about how Columbia River’s finances will change but said, “I am optimistic that we will very soon have a resolution on that.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/04/03/columbia-river-mental-health-new-ceo-six-6-million-shortfall/