Investing in Behavioral Health Providers

As part of our ongoing partnership with Fourfront Contributor, an advocacy and leadership coalition of Washington state behavioral health providers, we are amplifying our shared message around the need for sustainable solutions that will allow us to respond to and support the growing need in our communities.

Our organizations are facing unique workforce challenges that have shaped and impacted our services across the state. These include major shortages, the inability to provide adequate compensation and increasing turnover rates, all of which affect our ability to provide a community safety net to our most vulnerable populations. Our op-eds in the Seattle Times, Puget Sound Business Journal and The Spokesman-Review detail our concerns and the impact this workforce crisis will have in these local communities.

Read more about how we’re raising awareness and advocating for change below.

The Seattle Times: Fund behavioral-health providers essential to our COVID-19 recovery

As COVID-19 takes its toll, it is important to acknowledge the front-line providers that will help our system respond to the longstanding mental effects of the pandemic with equitable distribution to community behavioral health organizations.

You can read the full article here.

Puget Sound Business Journal: Washington must invest in community behavioral health providers

After the pandemic’s impact on our economy and workforce, it’s clear that our state lawmakers will be navigating a range of challenges to revive our communities and build a system that supports our collective recovery.

You can read the full article here.

The Spokesman – Review: What is good for community behavioral health is good for the health of our communities

State lawmakers must step up with changes to community behavioral health funding to ensure providers can continue to fill our vital roles. We act as a lifeline for the mental and physical health of our most vulnerable community members, ease strain on other community partners such as hospitals and law enforcement and serve as an economic stimulator by supporting productivity among those we serve and as large employers ourselves.

You can read the full article here.

Yakima Herald: Sustainable funding is critical for community behavioral health agencies

As our lawmakers navigate the final phases of the pandemic, they will make hundreds of financial decisions aiming to maximize our collective recovery. If leaders aim to amplify the mental, physical and economic health of our communities, it is imperative that they invest in community behavioral health.

You can read the fill article here.