Submitted by KM Hills.
On February 12, 2024, Carelon released an email which notified community providers that Recovery Innovations will close two crisis stabilization facilities, one in Fife and one in Parkland/Spanaway.
The Fife facility has been open for many years providing both crisis stabilization and Evaluation and Treatment (E&T) services. The 12 beds for E&T services will remain open, for the time being. The Crisis Recovery Center (CRC), in Parkland/Spanaway, will be closing after a mere 36 month in operation. The CRC was heavily financially back by Pierce County and the picture shows the ribbon cutting in March of 2021, when the brand new structure opened.
Attendees included the County Executive, Council Members, the Sheriff, the Central Pierce Fire Chief and Recovery Innovation executives. This facility opened shortly after the County Council passed a 1/10 of 1% behavioral health tax which was to raise 30 million dollars in funding for such programs. While the Carelon email indicated they hope to find a new provider for the CRC it also noted as of March 18 to expect a disruption in services.
These are not the only facilities that have been lost in Pierce County, another crisis recovery center was closed shortly after MultiCare entered into an agreement with Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare.
These closures, in addition to the previous loss of community mental health beds at Western State Hospital, will have a great negative impact on our community.
At a time when we constantly hear there is a “mental health crisis” it seems poor management, at every possible political and community provider level, will leave Pierce County in a true crisis when it comes to mental health services.
Jay Inslee promotes a plan to have mental health clients in small community based programs, which now have all but failed and closed in Pierce County. Government leaders promoted additional taxes to improve mental health services and now Pierce County residents must be questioning what are we getting for our 1/10 of 1%.
OF COURSE WHEN SOMETHING W O R K S ……GET RID OF IT!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH PIERCE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR R E A L L Y SUPPORTING YOUR CITIZENS…..ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT CAN ACTUALLY USE IT.
ONCE MORE, CITIZEN TAXES GOING FOR NAUGHT……
AND……NOW WE HAVE THE O N L Y STATE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY IN LAKEWOOD BEING CLOSED DOWN SO IT CAN BE REVAMPED FOR THE USE OF THE CRIMINALLY INSANE ONLY…..SEEMS TO ME THAT WAS BEING DONE BECAUSE THE S T A T E WAS GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH “PRIVATE” FACILITIES TAKE OVER THE SLACK….YEAH….RIGHT !!!!! NOT !!!
SO, CITY OF LAKEWOOD….HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THIS PILE OF S..T ???
EKC
Doesn’t surprise me. As soon as we allow our taxes to be raised, each new program requires more people that are employed to need more resources. New facilities, new vehicles, exorbitant raises, and pay for every holiday. I call it feel good legislation. Always sounds like a good idea until the accountability waivers. Tax payers need to wake up and quit voting for liberal policies. Remember, the government works for you. Stop feeling like you are voting to save your soul. Your employees will need more than you can afford. New levies, new bonds,etc.
Pretty sure our elections are ri gg ed at this point 90% of the ppl aren’t in favor of any of these bad policies
Plus these are the individuals who contribute to our escalating crime rate that forces are insurance rate to grow, 20% the last two years alone. Our money for community safety will either go to insurance companies or county for our public safety.
Always carry. Defend yourself from released insane people.
Mentally ill doesn’t mean insane. Educate yourself.
As my favorite saying goes, you get what you vote for. Change begins at the top. And until that happens, you’re gonna have the status quo of what you’re dealing with today. Incompetent government officials who could care less about the community near sworn to serve. Deplorable.
UNBELIEVABLE, This is pure bull crap. Where are people suppose to go for services? Another failure by our city council and government for even letting this happen. Where is someone in crisis to go now? You should feel like a LOSER. You let all pierce county residents down. The most vulnerable people with no where to go in a crisis. Mental health is not something to play games with. You putting peoples lives at a very high risk for future failure.
Seems BH in WA state is at a 3rd world level
One issue is when people like me who was having mental health issues I found help. Those people who helped me told me about becoming a peer counselor. They said I’m perfect for it after all the things I’ve been through in my life. So I looked Into it was about to start it than covid . They changed the rules and what you have to do to become a peer. I jumped through the hoops still nothing. I was going to work for this one company but since they seem to think drug addiction and mental health are the sa.e thing I could not get the job because I’m not a former drug addict
Follow the Money. See how much these organizations got paid over the past few years, and see how much since it truly “never” made. There needs to be a systemwide address to the problem in its entirety, and in permanency. We can do so much better but it starts with replacing current leadership from the top down.
Homelessness and mental health issues continue to be a problem for our communities our leaders continue to want and spend our tax dollars without sharing a plan to solve them. Do we need a change of leadership? The voters need to wake up and vote for leaders who will get these problems solved.
We need a change in leadership..OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW…They have destroyed this state. I have lived here all 50 years of my life and I have never wanted to leave so bad in my life like I do now, but unfortunately it’s no better anywhere else…And being flat broke due to inflation also doesn’t leave me any options either. The WHOLE COUNTRY NEEDS TO HELP!! AMERICA FIRST. QUIT HELPING EVERYONE ELSE AND START HELPING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF YOUR BAD DECISIONS. OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME OUR OWN DOMESTIC TERRORIST!!
I totally agree, the United States of America needs to help the people here first before helping outside the country.
The Parkland/Spanaway site was originally funded and purposely designed as a 24/7 caregiver support facility specializing in dementia care for low-income elderly and developmentally disabled. Pierce County (Greater Lakes and Good Samaritan) Mental Health Centers negotiated another “pie cut”, closed Orchard Hill and added a residential wing. Existing Orchard Hill clients and their families lost access to a vital set of support services and many were either enrolled in nursing homes or immediately died. In total, it was very upsetting for all.
Mental health is a driver of crime and substance abuse and homelessness so I think the failure of our local providers to be able to alleviate this community wide problem deserves intense problem solving , but, it may be that to wean people clean of addictive substances may require incarceration in a lock up as Western State Hospital was. We may need a rebirth of Western State Hospital as the first step before clients progress to a community house with monitoring.
It really is time for a change in elected leadership at all levels in this state. I read the fluff notices from our state senate and house members about their legislative “achievements” and see the quality of our lives falling apart while they praise themselves. You KNOW the tax increase isn’t going to be rescinded – just repurposed for another wasteful program that advances a special interest while the general welfare goes begging.
It’s sad. But won’t get better until we are feed up enough to vote for people who actually care about everyone – not interest groups. Send a message – vote out EVERY incumbent this cycle. Until then, they will continue to ignore us, divide us and selfishly control us.
Is this the answer?
See The Suburban Times, 23 March 2023 –
“On March 21 the Pierce County Council voted in favor of the Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Act, or 2022-81s, which will implement a countywide one-tenth of one percent sales tax increase for affordable housing and related services, as allowed by Washington State law. The earliest the tax can begin to be collected is July 1, 2023.
“The impact to the taxpayer in Pierce County would be ten cents for every $100 spent, with groceries, medicine and certain medical supplies and hygiene products exempt from the tax. The Affordable Housing Act is dedicated to Maureen Howard, who died Jan. 5, 2023, for the years she spent fighting for housing, shelter, and dignity for houseless people.”
https://thesubtimes.com/2023/03/22/pierce-county-council-votes-in-favor-of-maureen-howard-affordable-housing-act/
All systems work, and all systems fail. Typically, people make the difference.
Be well.
Hey, WE elect these people to represent us! Apparently mental health afflictions, and the damage it causes to others, don’t carry the media juice needed to get our attention. I guess we rather listen to whining about all the exaggerated injustices on which many politicians focus to advance their careers and egos. WE get for what we vote.
Mr. Warfield-
Thank-you participating in this conversation. I agree with how you ended your initial reply …”Typically, people make the difference.”
I believe those in charge, some elected, some appointed and some employed are where the changes needs to take place.
Per the Seattle Times …
“Western State Hospital voluntarily withdrew from accreditation by The Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization, on May 24, according to a Joint Commission spokeswoman.”
With decisions like the one above which keep WSH from getting Federal Dollars, and I hold the inslee administration accountable for this one in particular, it makes providing services to mental health clients that much harder and puts the burden solely on the tax payers.
To answer your other question, No I don’t think yet another 1/10 of 1% sales tax increase will change anything. If clearly did not help with the one specific for mental health.
What is the accountability piece that is not understood for our council members? If we have pledged to INDEED help mental health care than you would think that before you start closing existing facilities that WE must FIRST find a CLEAR solution to take it”s place. LEJ
Where’s the Marijuana tax money?
Where’s the money from the drug companies over the heroin epidemic?
It’s given to illegals for the immigration lawyers. Food, clothing, rent. Sickening we take care of criminals and let our citizens be homeless and jobless
As crime rates keep a steady incline, you would think our elected leadership would realize that the one thing that would REALLY help see an improvement in this, would be better and easier access to mental health, but I guess they’ve opted for a better allocation of funds, leaving the ones who need help with none, and what do they turn to? Usually drugs to numb the issue. Only compounding it until one day a complete mental breakdown is reached, and that’s when REALLY bad things start to happen. I know because I’ve lived that life, though I am happy to say, in the last year I have managed to find stability in sobriety and through mental health services, which I desperately needed and continue to need. What does the afformentioned in this article mean for those who need the help and are currently seeking it? Anyone’s guess is as good as my own, but it doesn’t sound or look good.
I wish more than anything. That society would wake up. Every thing the government is involved in fails. Regardless of the branch,in fed..,st., co., or local. All public officials and politicians have one goal. To tax you for every penny you have. For them and there little pet projects. These programs don’t fail by accident. It’s just another way to make us feel we need to give more, when asked. Good example, our so called governor wants to bottle neck the largest ferry system in the u.s. because he demands electric ferries over diesel. Any one with a brain should realize that electric ferry generators are ran by non other than a diesel engine. Come on people. A 75 bed homeless shelter does nothing for 10,000 homeless. Yet they will have a ribbon cutting ceremony and pat each other on the back for there wonderful achievement. Really, are you going to continue doing this until you are taxed out of your home, lose your job because your employer can no longer afford the business taxes and regulations involved. Now your living on the street. Which can be very mentally taxing. Now you need help. Stay away from fife, and parkland, Spanaway arias cuz they no longer have mental health facilities.
Regards, Thomas Swenson
Government has crept into every aspect of our lives, largely uninvited.
Some of us have paid a terrible price for this incursion.
Government has pitted us against each other, dividing us into sub-categories, and using us-divided to spawn endless policy where our individual rights once stood.
Great savior, Mommy dearest, Caped crusader, whatever their self-delusion.
The last thing government wants is for us to grow and prosper in a way that they cannot steal credit for.
Just look at all the policy and programs we are forced to fund and you will see this truth.
But then as Mark Twain said, “No amount of evidence will ever convince an idiot”.
But then again, literacy and a love of literature has now been labeled race!$t by those who have inserted themselves into positions of power over us.
Yes, it is time for a top-down change in leadership.