Mental Health Awareness Month: Whatcom County Spotlight

In Whatcom County, Compass Health serves approximately 4,611 clients yearly with the support of 162 staff members across our programs and locations. Through a combination of clinical care, peer support services, and community based programs, our teams remain closely connected to the communities they serve, expanding access to care and supporting whole person health every day.

Let’s take a closer look at the Compass Health sites serving Whatcom County and the services offered at each location:

McLeod
The McLeod site in Bellingham is a large, multiservice location offering a wide range of behavioral health and medical services under one roof. Programs based at McLeod include Whatcom Adult Outpatient, Whatcom Children and Family Services, AIMS (formerly known as IOP), Community Outreach Recovery Services (CORS), and School-Based Services, ensuring support across the lifespan.  The site is also home to Compass Health Medical Services, providing integrated care that supports both physical and behavioral health needs. An on‑site Genoa Pharmacy further strengthens care coordination by offering convenient access to medications and close collaboration with treatment teams. Together, the services at McLeod create a comprehensive, connected continuum of care for individuals and families across Whatcom County.

Cordata
At our Cordata location, Compass Health leases two suites that support multiple teams serving the Whatcom community. One suite is home to the Whatcom WISe Yellow Team, providing wraparound services for youth and families with complex behavioral health needs. The second suite houses our Whatcom Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) and Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) teams, who respond to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in the community. While this site does not host medical services, teams based at Cordata coordinate closely with Compass Health Medical Services and other Compass Health programs to support timely crisis response and connection to appropriate levels of ongoing care across Whatcom County.

Whatcom Triage – Anne Decon Center for Hope
At the Anne Deacon Center, Compass Health operates the Whatcom Triage program, a 24/7 medical service providing a short term, voluntary stabilization option for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This location offers a safe, supportive environment where people receive immediate assessment, stabilization, and medical oversight as an alternative to emergency departments or more restrictive settings. As part of Compass Health Medical Services, the Anne Deacon Triage team plays a critical role in addressing urgent needs and supporting smooth transitions to the right next step in care within the community.

Sequoia 
The Sequoia site serves as the home base for Whatcom YGo, Compass Health’s youth crisis outreach team. From this location, YGo teams support children, youth, and families experiencing behavioral health crises by providing timely, community‑based intervention and stabilization services. Sequoia is designed as a welcoming and collaborative space that supports staff while also serving as a safe entry point for families, helping ensure youth receive the right support when and where it is needed.

This year, we’ve continued to expand and strengthen our impact through:

• YGo
•  LIT Program

Strong community partnerships are central to the work we do in Whatcom County, including Compass Health’s collaboration with the Bellingham Fire Department. Through an embedded Designated Crisis Responder model, our teams support faster, clinically appropriate responses to behavioral health crises, connecting people to the right care at the right time.

Together, these teams and partnerships reflect the heart of our work in Whatcom County. Thank you to our staff for the compassion, collaboration, and commitment you bring every day to the communities we serve.