Frank’s Story

Frank first connected with Compass Health through the Volunteers of America Care Crisis Line. He contacted the VOA after several in-patient hospitalizations resulting from homelessness, schizophrenia, and recent suicide attempts. The VOA dispatched Compass Health’s crisis team, which contacted and met with Frank to develop a plan of recovery and safety.

Our crisis team found that Frank’s homelessness happened after his parent passed away. Frank, who had been his parent’s full-time caregiver, tried to find work but became overwhelmed with financial obligations and ultimately lost housing and his job as a cook.

The team attempted to refer Frank to the closest crisis triage facility in Skagit County but was denied entrance because they had no capacity for someone requiring his level of care. So Frank and the crisis team decided to try referring him to Compass Health’s Crisis Triage facility in Whatcom County. While the Triage center was located outside of Frank’s community, they were able to admit him and began working on medication management and coping skills, helping to make referrals for ongoing care.

Frank was then introduced to Compass Health’s housing options in Snohomish County. He and his team agreed that he would not be able to manage living on his own yet, so his case manager contacted Compass Health’s Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) managers to find an opening.

A Compass Health RTF welcomed Frank, enabling him to continue building the medication management and coping skills he learned at Triage.

From the initial contact with our crisis team, to brief crisis stabilization, to finding the right level of ongoing care, Frank has been able to find the help he needs all within Compass Health’s continuum of care. Whenever Frank is able to graduate from the RTF he will be able to move into one of Compass Health’s many outpatient programs, supporting his care when and where he needs us.