The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has formally assumed ownership of the NorthStar treatment clinic in Vancouver, a regional substance use and behavioral health provider long operated by Columbia River Mental Health Services (CRMHS). The transition became effective on Feb. 1, according to joint statements from both organizations and reporting by The Reflector.

NorthStar serves patients from Clark and Cowlitz counties, including many who rely on medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and community‑integrated recovery services. The facility’s new ownership aligns NorthStar with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s existing health and treatment infrastructure, which includes its own health clinic and expanding behavioral health programs.

Both the Tribe and CRMHS described the transition as a planned and collaborative process. No changes to patient services have been publicly announced beyond the shift in administrative control. As of mid-February, program details, staffing, and service schedules remain attributed to the respective organizations’ public statements, and no disruptions to ongoing treatment have been reported.

For Cowlitz County residents, the transfer reflects a growing regional role for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe in healthcare administration. The Tribe’s involvement in behavioral health has increased steadily over the past decade, paralleling national trends in which tribal governments assume direct control of health and recovery services that serve both Native and non‑Native populations.

NorthStar is one of the few specialized treatment centers accessible to patients from southwest Washington without requiring travel to Portland or central Puget Sound. Formal tribal ownership may influence future funding pathways, program expansion, and integration with other health services already operated by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Any changes to capacity or service coordination would directly affect residents in Longview, Kelso, and rural Cowlitz County who rely on stable and nearby treatment options.

The Reflector: Cowlitz Indian Tribe assumes ownership of NorthStar Clinic