Compass Health IMPACT Community Response Program Expands to East Skagit County

CONCRETE, Wash., February 3, 2022 – Compass Health and the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office are pleased to announce that the Integrated Model of Police and Crisis Teams (IMPACT) has expanded into East Skagit County in Concrete to meet the behavioral health needs of the rural community.

The IMPACT model is an integrated partnership that allows Compass Health behavioral health professionals and their law enforcement counterparts to respond to mental health related calls together. The Skagit Valley Sheriff’s Office first introduced the program in September 2020.

“Working with forward-thinking departments such as the Skagit County Sherriff’s Office enables us to meet the needs of rural areas, like Concrete, that are underserved by traditional response systems,” said Lisa Zurek, clinical manager of the Compass Health IMPACT Program. “Anyone can experience a crisis, even if you do not have a known mental health diagnosis. This partnership allows us to meet people where they are and to serve as a bridge to services and resources that support a journey to wellness and recovery.”

The goal of the partnership is to respond mental health calls and intervene before individuals find themselves in a cycle of hospitalization, arrests, or homelessness. Responders help to de-escalate situations, engage individuals in the community and connect them to resources like housing vouchers, food, shelter assistance, treatment programs and more to support their health and well-being.

“This program has seen great success since its launch two years ago, and it’s vital for us to continue outreach given the challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic,” said Chris Baldwin, chief of operations for the Skagit Valley Sheriff’s Office. “Expanding into East Skagit County is important for the east county, upriver community, and I’m glad that we have the opportunity to continue to contribute to the growth of this initiative.”

The Compass Health IMPACT program, which has also established partnerships with several police departments in Snohomish County including Marysville, Arlington, Lake Stevens, and Tulalip Tribal Police Services, and is expected to continue to grow in the northwest Washington region.

To learn more about Compass Health IMPACT, please visit compasshealth.org/services/impact/.