Mental Health Awareness Month: San Juan County Spotlight
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re proud to spotlight San Juan County and the important work happening across these island communities.
In San Juan County, Compass Health supports approximately 700 clients annually, with the dedication and expertise of 15 staff working across three island-based locations. San Juan County is home to vibrant island communities where people live, work, and stay connected despite the realities of distance and limited transportation options. While off-island access relies on ferries, boats, or planes, for residents this is simply everyday life.
Let’s take a closer look at the Compass Health sites serving San Juan County and the services offered at each location.
Friday Harbor
The Friday Harbor site anchors Compass Health’s presence in San Juan County, supporting access to a wide range of behavioral health, substance use, medical, and crisis services across the islands. Teams at this location provide adult outpatient services, child and family outpatient services, and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services, along with coordination of WISe (Wraparound with Intensive Services) for youth and families. Friday Harbor is also home to the Recovery Navigator Program (RNP), as well as Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) and Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) services, ensuring responsive behavioral health crisis care throughout the county.
San Juan County is the only county in our system offering outpatient SUD services. It’s also our only county with the Recovery Navigator Program, providing outreach‑based support, assessment, case management, and connection to treatment and recovery services for individuals navigating substance use and co‑occurring behavioral health needs.
In addition, integrated psychiatric services are delivered through Friday Harbor, supporting whole person care and coordination across programs. Because access requires travel by boat or plane, staff regularly coordinate scheduling, care plans, and shared resources to help individuals and families remain connected to care despite distance and travel constraints.
Orcas Island
The Orcas Island site provides adult outpatient services, child and family outpatient services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services, and access to crisis services through coordinated response with Friday Harbor–based teams. Care is delivered through a combination of in-person services and ongoing coordination, helping ensure individuals and families can access support close to home while remaining connected to the broader San Juan County care network. Teams work intentionally to reduce the need for off-island travel whenever possible.
Lopez Island
The Lopez Island location supports adult outpatient services, child and family outpatient services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services, and access to crisis services through coordinated response with San Juan County teams. Serving a smaller and more remote community means teams collaborate closely across sites to share resources, coordinate care, and maintain consistent access to services. This coordination helps individuals stay engaged in care within their own community despite geographic and transportation limitations.
San Juan County – Expanded Impact
San Juan County recently launched the Opioid Addiction Recovery Support (OARS) pilot program to help island residents engaged in treatment or recovery from opioid use disorder cover essential living expenses, including housing related support. Compass Health is one of three local organizations designated to administer the program, helping reduce immediate financial barriers so individuals can focus on their recovery and long term stability.
You can read more about the OARS program and how it supports islanders in recovery here.
Recovery Navigator Program
San Juan County is the only county in our system offering the Recovery Navigator Program (RNP), an outreach-based service designed to reduce barriers to care for individuals navigating substance use and co occurring behavioral health needs. Based out of Friday Harbor, the program provides intensive, field focused case management, meeting people where they are across San Juan’s island communities.
Using a voluntary, harm reduction approach, RNP works closely with law enforcement, courts, and local community partners to connect individuals to treatment, recovery supports, and ongoing care. This model is especially critical in a county made up of island communities where people live and work year-round, and where connecting to services beyond one’s home island often requires ferry or air travel.
The Recovery Navigator Program and Mobile Crisis Outreach Team were featured in local San Juan County media during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, highlighting how community members can access these services and the role they play in supporting recovery and community stability.
In San Juan County, delivering care takes a high level of creativity and teamwork in a truly remote setting. Across clinical, crisis, youth, and operational roles, staff work closely together to navigate distance and logistics while maintaining strong relationships with the communities they serve.
Together, these teams and locations reflect the heart of our work in San Juan County. Thank you to our staff for the care, commitment, and collaboration you bring every day to these island communities. Your work continues to make a real and lasting difference.
Get In Touch
Compass Health is here to help. Whether you have questions about our services, want to share your feedback or a success story, have a media inquiry, or are seeking more information on a training or job opportunity, contact us today for assistance and support.