The Emergency Services Patrol (ESP) team, in the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, is one of DCHS’ direct service teams. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the team patrols in and around downtown Seattle, looking out for people in crisis. To learn more about their work, the team’s history, and what’s ahead, we sat down with the ESP … Continue reading 50 years in, DCHS’ Emergency Services Patrol carries out a critical mission
Mental Health Month: DCHS Makes Getting Routine Mental Health Care Easier for People in King County
May is mental health month, and we want to check in—how is your mental health? It’s been an especially stressful year for many communities that our Department of Community and Human Services serve, including King County’s immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQIA+ communities, people experiencing homelessness, veterans, and people who are low income. Just like getting an annual physical, we all need to prioritize our mental health too, likely more than we do. “Setting … Continue reading Mental Health Month: DCHS Makes Getting Routine Mental Health Care Easier for People in King County
Older Americans Month: Investing in senior health promotion
Every May, the nation observes Older Americans Month (OAM) to recognize the contributions of older adults, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to helping older adults thrive in their communities. The 2026 OAM national theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention and wellness as cornerstones of healthy aging. It highlights the importance ofevidence-based approaches, … Continue reading Older Americans Month: Investing in senior health promotion
Breaking the Cycle: Connecting People to Mental Health Care After Hospitalization
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
Community Resource Event District 7: Connect with VSHSL providers in your community
Are you interested in learning more about the resources and services available in your community? The Department of Community and Human Services’ Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Supportive Community Outreach Programs and Engagement (SCOPE) team is hosting their next Community Resource Event at the Federal Way Performing Arts Center. Local organizations and services funded through the VSHSL … Continue reading Community Resource Event District 7: Connect with VSHSL providers in your community
New funding opportunity: King County Youth Diversion and Intervention Program
To ensure all young people have equitable opportunities to be happy, healthy, safe, and thriving members of their communities King County invests in reducing the number of young people in the juvenile legal system and diverting them to community-based resources. The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has just released a request … Continue reading New funding opportunity: King County Youth Diversion and Intervention Program
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