Trending...
- Spokane: Flags Lowered for the Victims of the Longview Tragedy
- A Statement from Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello and Tacoma City Council Member Kristina Walker on Vote Regarding Sound Transit 3 Long-Range Financial Plan
- TechHouse Earns Highly Selective Microsoft Support Badge
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
- AI Is Making It Easier for API-First Platforms to Connect, Partner, Reach Customers, and Grow Revenue Faster
- 2026 Editorial Freelancers Association Conference Focuses on Building Sustainable Careers
- netElastic Powers LigaT's High-Performance Broadband Expansion and IPv6 Modernization in Portugal
- Raiku launches rkuSOL with Sanctum, Kamino, Loopscale and Exponent
- Greenland Mines Ltd (N A S D A Q: GRML) Advances Strategic Growth Initiatives as Critical Minerals Demand Accelerates
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
- Boston Industrial Solutions Launches Natron® 348 UV Inkjet Ink for Epson S3200 Print Heads
- Heritage at South Brunswick Unveils Luxury Resort-Style Amenities Designed for Every Generation
- Spokane: Working Smoke Alarms Help Seven Escape Early-Morning House Fire
- CAPHRA warns push for ASEAN vape ban ignores science
- Spokane: Egypt National Team to Hold Open Training Session at Gonzaga University Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™
- Your Mortgage Toolbox Launches Free Mortgage Calculators That Show the Real Monthly Payment and Cash Needed to Close
- ENTOUCH Recognized on Inc.'s 2026 Best Workplaces List for the Third Year Running
- P-Wave Classics Opens Pre-Orders for Volume II of Robert Bage's Hermsprong
- City of Spokane Launches New Webpage, Notice Document to Connect Residents with Eviction Prevention Resources
- Tuckwell Machinery Launches New Range of Woodworking Machinery
- A Brave Little Hero with Four Paws
- Arux Group CEO Calls on Security Industry to End Hidden Subcontracting and White-Papering
- Revenue Optics Expands Its Private Equity Practice as Sponsors Move Inside Sales to the Center of Distribution Value Creation
- Ecuador Freedom Launches First Scheduled Motorcycle Tour of Northern Peru's Lost Kingdoms
- Lineus Medical Completes Financial Restructuring with KMF Investments- Launching a New Era for SafeBreak
- Neuro Recovery Institute Showcases Emerging Immersive Neuro-Rehabilitation Technology at Clinical Innovation Open House
- Community, Conservation & Waterwise Inspiration Bloom on June 6
- Industrial and systems engineers celebrate key leaders in the field at IISE Annual Conference
- Cosanostra Miami Rises as the Best Latin Nightclub in Miami in Under Two Years From its Opening
- CCHR Leader's 50-Year Fight for Psychiatric Drug Victims Gains National Momentum