Trending...
- From the Racetrack to the Boardroom: Aston Martin and Aramco Formula One Partnership Accelerates Circle8 Group: (N A S D A Q: CIRC)
- Spokane Community Urged to Prepare for Inclement Weather
- Spokane: SPD Respond to Several Underage Drivers on Electric Motorcycles
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
- Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc. Introduces SAP-G70 Primer for bonding silicone to silicone and other materials
- Tacoma: Capital Ready: Preparing Businesses for Growth in Public Contracting Workshop on August 26, 2026
- Final Week for Spokane Falls Boulevard Survey
- 'Reflections: Enlightening Insights Into the Divine Mystery' — The Latest Book by Philosopher Steven Colborne
- Scott G. Hoy of Hoy Law Earns 11th Consecutive Super Lawyers Selection
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
- KeysCaribbean Resorts Offer Savings On Summer Vacations Now Through Aug. 31
- Crossroads4Hope Announces The Lipschutz Women's Fund
- AI, Drones, Defense & Explosive Growth: Why ZenaTech Is Emerging as One of the Most Compelling Technology Growth Stories (N A S D A Q: ZENA)
- The truth behind mylifesflow.com and the poet, Taryn "My Life's Flow" Robinson
- 91 Per Cent of Enterprises Will Increase AI Spending. Most Can't See the Cost — or the Risk!
- New ProEssentials v11: Native WinUI Charting Library, 100M Points in 15ms, Following Microsoft's Vision for True Native Swap-Chain Rendering
- Salestrics Releases Version 2.0 to Unify CRM, Business Email, and Operations on a Single Customer Graph
- Aderra Opens in Magnolia, Texas, Offering a New Model for 62+ Homeownership
- Spokane: SPD Participates in a Statewide Motorcycle Safety Emphasis
- What's New in Hokkaido, Autumn 2026
- Tacoma: Homicide Investigation – 400 Block of East 75th Street
- Are "Buck Teeth" Hereditary? Spokane Valley Dentist Explains Children's Smile Development
- CRG Awarded NASA SEWP VI Contracts in Categories B and C
- Spokane: Council Member Zappone Awarded Certificate of Municipal Leadership
- Heidi G. Villari of The Villari Firm, PLLC Named to Super Lawyers for the Tenth Consecutive Year
- Spokane: SPD Assists Stevens County Sheriff's Office Locate a Reckless Vehicle
- Elevate Your Sneakers With Crep Protect Trek Laces
- Meet Privateer: Tucson's High-Tech Security Force Built With Paramilitary Precision
- James Richey, CEO of JouleFit, to Be Featured on the July Edition of the Longevity Leaders Project
- Dynamic Dachshund Dog Goes Global: Remember Point Launches a New Bilingual Children's Book