SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Spokane County and the City of Spokane Fire Department are partnering to launch a program that pairs behavioral health professionals with first responders to improve mental health crisis response.
On Tuesday, The Spokane County Board of Commissioners approved a partnership with the City of Spokane Fire Department (SFD) to create a co-responder program aimed at enhancing public safety.
The program will pair behavioral health professionals from Frontier Behavioral Health with SFD’s first responders to better address mental health crises, reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and incarceration and provide more responsive care throughout Spokane County.
District 1 Commissioner Chris Jordan praised the collaborative effort.
“This is a win for a safer and healthier Spokane. By boosting our region’s behavioral health crisis response, I believe we will see more folks who are struggling getting the help they need to be healthy and stable, all while reducing pressure on law enforcement and improving community safety.”
Justin Johnson, Director of the Spokane County Community Services Department, added, “This collaboration is a game-changer for our region, expanding behavioral health resources for first responders to better address crisis causes and offer new alternatives. It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we work together to serve our community.”
The program is funded by Spokane County’s Mental Health Sales Tax and is expected to launch later this year. The Board of Commissioners said it will support the initiative with ongoing training, evaluation and community engagement.
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