Trending...
- Omnitronics launches Ecosystem Health Dashboard to enable proactive monitoring across dispatch environments
- Tacoma: Applications Now Being Accepted for three Positions on the Urban Design Board
- Independent West Texas Metal Multi-Instrumentalist & Producer. "MAD CHAD™" Russell Surpasses 1.9 Million Project Interactions Via DFGS Productions
Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO, jderuyter@spokanecity.org
The Spokane Fire Department is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its Community Assistance Response Team (CARES) with the addition of a new social worker, who officially joined the team this week. This latest hire marks the final phase of a recent staffing initiative that welcomed two other social workers to the program. The expansion has been made possible through funding received from opioid lawsuit settlement dollars, reinforcing the City's commitment to addressing behavioral health and substance use challenges in the community.
Launched in 2008, CARES is the department's social response initiative to improve quality of life and reduce unnecessary EMS use by addressing social determinants of health. When EMS providers encounter individuals with needs beyond medical care, they refer them to the CARES Team. The team—usually social work students from Eastern Washington University—conducts home visits, assesses social service needs, and connects clients with community resources, advocating to ensure they receive necessary support.
More on Washingtoner
As demand for the team's services grows yearly, we are grateful for the additional staffing. With this expansion, the CARES Team will increase referrals following 911 responses to overdoses. The team will provide early intervention for individuals struggling with substance use disorders by connecting them to treatment resources and discussing harm reduction strategies. This added capacity will also allow the team to respond more frequently to requests from responding crews or provide same-day outreach, especially to unhoused individuals.
"The CARES Team plays a critical role in our efforts to help those impacted by the opioid crisis and struggling with substance use disorders," said Mayor Lisa Brown. "By expanding this team, we are increasing our case management capacity and investing in a model with proven positive results."
"We will be able to support the responding crews more and serve the most vulnerable populations in Spokane," said Sarah Foley, CARES Team Manager. "I love the work that I am doing with the CARES Team. Our team gets the opportunity to make a positive impact when people need help, and we get to work with an entire department dedicated to serving the community."
The Spokane Fire Department is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its Community Assistance Response Team (CARES) with the addition of a new social worker, who officially joined the team this week. This latest hire marks the final phase of a recent staffing initiative that welcomed two other social workers to the program. The expansion has been made possible through funding received from opioid lawsuit settlement dollars, reinforcing the City's commitment to addressing behavioral health and substance use challenges in the community.
Launched in 2008, CARES is the department's social response initiative to improve quality of life and reduce unnecessary EMS use by addressing social determinants of health. When EMS providers encounter individuals with needs beyond medical care, they refer them to the CARES Team. The team—usually social work students from Eastern Washington University—conducts home visits, assesses social service needs, and connects clients with community resources, advocating to ensure they receive necessary support.
More on Washingtoner
- Spokane: Incorrect Info Regarding Downgraded Evacuation Status on Popular App
- FDA Clears Major Regulatory Hurdle as Preservative-Free Ketamine Program Moves Within Reach of Commercialization: NRx Pharmaceuticals: (NAS DAQ: NRXP)
- Autonomous Robotics Platform Expansion as Public Market Debut is Very Close: MBody AI Corp. (N A S D A Q: MBAI)
- Tacoma Voters Approve Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy (Proposition 1)
- Loud! OOH calls for prize draw advertising standards as £1.3bn category moves outdoors
As demand for the team's services grows yearly, we are grateful for the additional staffing. With this expansion, the CARES Team will increase referrals following 911 responses to overdoses. The team will provide early intervention for individuals struggling with substance use disorders by connecting them to treatment resources and discussing harm reduction strategies. This added capacity will also allow the team to respond more frequently to requests from responding crews or provide same-day outreach, especially to unhoused individuals.
"The CARES Team plays a critical role in our efforts to help those impacted by the opioid crisis and struggling with substance use disorders," said Mayor Lisa Brown. "By expanding this team, we are increasing our case management capacity and investing in a model with proven positive results."
"We will be able to support the responding crews more and serve the most vulnerable populations in Spokane," said Sarah Foley, CARES Team Manager. "I love the work that I am doing with the CARES Team. Our team gets the opportunity to make a positive impact when people need help, and we get to work with an entire department dedicated to serving the community."
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- Silicon Box Ships 500M Units at High Yield, Expands Production Capacity for Panel-Level Packaging
- Statement from Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen on Spokane Wildfires
- Why Baton Rouge's Humid Climate Can Contribute to Carpenter Ant Damage — J&J Exterminating Explains How to Protect Your Home
- RPR Promotes Emily Line to Chief Strategy Officer and Janine Sieja to Chief Product Officer
- Expanding Beyond Space as New Drone Market Opportunities Accelerate Growth: Ascent Solar Technologies (N A S D A Q: ASTI)
- Lauren Merrell, Dale Sorensen Real Estate, announces price improvement for an extraordinary island retreat
- Spokane: Construction Impacts for Freya Street Corridor
- Spokane: City Service Adjustments During Fire Response
- Qustone Launches Human-Centered Professional Network
- Portalz Publishes FES World First Architecture Introducing a New Cryptographic Platform
- ExtraCarry Sponsors Threat Response's Defensive Tactics Camp for Third Consecutive Year
- ExtraCarry Sponsors the World Revolver Championship
- Tacoma City Council Funds Pilot with St. Leo Food Connection to Expand Food Access at Tacoma Public Library
- Tacoma: Applications Now Being Accepted for three Positions on the Urban Design Board
- Spokane: Wildfire and Insurance Informational Session
- Premier Expands Presence with New Bellevue Flexible Workspace Location
- Haven Treatment Center In-Network with MODA Health, Expanding Access to Behavioral Health
- Cellofest Brings Free Cello Concerts and Community Events to Bethany Beach August 5–16
- Blue Sky Capital Strategies, LLC awarded Leasing and Financial Services agreement with Premier Inc
- Michael M. Thomas Expands Executive Leadership Across Central India Outreach and Royal Trinity School