King County residents are invited to two virtual Community Update Meetings this fall to learn about the renewal of the MIDD Behavioral Health Sales Tax and the new Implementation Plan that was recently sent to the King County Council for consideration. If passed by Council, the Implementation Plan will guide several key local investments in behavioral health care through 2034. These Community Update Meetings are hosted by the King County Department of Community and Human Services’ (DCHS) Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD).
Join Us and Learn More
These Community Update Meetings will provide an overview of the newly transmitted Implementation Plan, highlight the proposed new name, and give attendees a chance to ask questions about what’s ahead for behavioral health investments in King County.
Event Details
Wednesday, September 16
Time: 12PM – 1PM
Location: Virtual
Registration here: bit.ly/SeptMIDDMeeting
Wednesday, October 21
Time: 6PM – 7PM
Location: Virtual
Registration here: bit.ly/OctMIDDMeeting
Community voices helped shape this renewed vision of behavioral health in King County. We look forward to connecting with residents, providers, partners, and anyone interested in the future of this vital community investment.
About the Proposed Implementation Plan: Strengthening Behavioral Health Through 2034
The Implementation Plan reflects two years of extensive community engagement with more than 2,000 residents, including behavioral health providers, researchers, peers, youth, seniors, members of the criminal legal system, and community leaders.
The MIDD Behavioral Health Sales Tax—one of King County’s largest local investments—has supported critical behavioral health needs for nearly two decades. The tax invests approximately $172 million every two years in prevention, treatment, and recovery services that help break cycles of incarceration, homelessness, crisis, and hospitalization. These investments ensure people across the county can access timely, culturally responsive care that may otherwise be unavailable or inaccessible.
Five New Priority Areas
Community members shaped the Implementation Plan, which focuses future investments across five priorities:
- Care transitions and diversion services
- Substance use disorder treatment and recovery
- Equitable access to behavioral health care
- Child, youth, and young adult mental well-being
- Behavioral health workforce development
Introducing the New Name: Behavioral Health Bridge
As we engaged communities across the county, many shared that the MIDD sale tax’s name, “Mental Illness and Drug Dependency,” no longer reflects today’s understanding of behavioral health or the values guiding this work. In response, DCHS and the Executive’s Office have proposed renaming MIDD as the “King County Behavioral Health Bridge,” also known as “The Bridge.”
The new name represents the tax’s purpose and impact: bridging gaps created by insufficient federal and state resources, connecting people to prevention, treatment, recovery, and long-term stability. It also reflects community concerns that the previous name contributed to stigma surrounding mental health and substance use. The new name will not go into effect until it is considered and passed by the King County Council.