For too long, communities across King County have faced barriers to getting the behavioral health care they need to support their long-term recovery. At the Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS), we are breaking the cycle through our commitment to following through, connecting people to routine mental health care and recovery supports after they are discharged from treatment in hospitals, inpatient programs, or Crisis Care Centers. New data shows efforts to connect clients of King County’s behavioral health services to outpatient care after a hospitalization are working and setting a national standard for follow-up care. The period after leaving a hospital is a … Continue reading Breaking the Cycle: Connecting People to Mental Health Care After Hospitalization
New Youth Mental Health Urgent Care Now Open in Kirkland
As part of the voter-approved Crisis Care Centers initiative, we are excited to share that youth behavioral health urgent care is now available at our first Crisis Care Center, Connections Kirkland—whether or not you have insurance. The Crisis Care Centers initiative is making sure everyone including children and teens have access to free 24/7 behavioral health crisis services, including: Someone to call: 988 Crisis Line Someone … Continue reading New Youth Mental Health Urgent Care Now Open in Kirkland
Update on King County’s Response to the Opioid Overdose Crisis
King County’s Five Priorities to Stop the Surge of Overdose Deaths were first announced in March 2024 as a coordinated cross-government response to slow the opioid overdose crisis. Over the past two years, we’ve seen a promising overall decline in overdoses in King County; fatal overdoses decreased 32% from 2023 to 2025. Nonetheless, fatal overdoses in 2025 remain elevated compared to before 2022. Working in partnership, the Department of Community and Human … Continue reading Update on King County’s Response to the Opioid Overdose Crisis
New RFP for a Logistics Coordinator to Create a Trusted Leaders Network for the Crisis Care Centers Initiative
A new RFP is now open seeking a Logistics Coordinator to help launch King County’s Trusted Leaders Network, a key part of the Crisis Care Centers initiative’s commitment to community. The Crisis Care Centers Levy is transforming how people access behavioral health crisis care and is centering equity all along the way. The Trusted Leaders Network—and the Logistics Coordinator who supports it—will bring community voices directly … Continue reading New RFP for a Logistics Coordinator to Create a Trusted Leaders Network for the Crisis Care Centers Initiative
King County Increases Number of Residential Treatment Beds
King County is expanding access to behavioral health care to support more people the moment they’re ready for mental health or substance use treatment. A new $20 million investment through the Crisis Care Centers initiative will go toward two community behavioral health providers—Aristo Healthcare Services in Renton and Seattle Indian Health Board on Vashon Island—to create 31 new residential treatment beds across both sites that provide equitable access to culturally-responsive treatment. The Crisis Care Centers Levy aims to build out crisis services, including building back lost residential treat beds and ensure dedicated teams are in place, … Continue reading King County Increases Number of Residential Treatment Beds
A Regional Network Takes Shape: King County Selects MultiCare to Operate Future South King County Crisis Care Center
MultiCare Behavioral Health will operate King County’s third Crisis Care Center to be located in South King County, covering Auburn, Covington, Kent, Federal Way, and Renton. Funded through the voter-approved Crisis Care Centers Levy, this selection marks another key milestone as King County has now awarded operators for three of five planned centers across the region. King County is moving with urgency to create a countywide network of five Crisis Care Centers where anyone can go 24/7 … Continue reading A Regional Network Takes Shape: King County Selects MultiCare to Operate Future South King County Crisis Care Center