[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6153954,"mediaKeyId","5489700-cd0243981e8595ffa1196759d18ec156","parentId",5489700,"title","STARS sobering-and-triage program reports steep drop in repeat clients and seeks expansion","audioSeconds",332,"startMs",611000,"endMs",943000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489700-cd0243981e8595ffa1196759d18ec156&start=611&end=943","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489700-cd0243981e8595ffa1196759d18ec156/thumbnail_611000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6153954/Spokane-County/Washington/STARS-sobering-and-triage-program-reports-steep-drop-in-repeat-clients-and-seeks-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153954-57d1cf6442871e7ab56791fa5cded16d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773464149&Signature=MQZuVxqgn38TkXVAy2yZAMj1Tvtz31EpreUuydm3ap-~Y0R7ek~v4JALbx9qzKXLHAbpuBXUIgaJA9UsS1UuEjMZpmzGPcg~iJ~HjQLQA4d~xqquQ69P60psWWF03qlO6KdF~qCmdBdRdeoAF4IhNdRzTljgUG7dKEzC5INKq6sLOzxyVkP4DPVZFXBe5qofYAlsdhxwo0lGXoNzh6Ov1jwsjXHPE0qnxlBby8XBwLvNvEtXG92duwIy9qxSQmX9tlhx8Y1XI8c3rGQhII~AGupYrYCUIbH9A6WPgM5TdclKPjr-tbVd6JpE9NPX4qmikmoWfEZhN0iAOYqrwa-BRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane County, WA","date","2025-07-28T16:20:01Z","article","Ryan Kent, a STARS representative, told the Spokane County Behavioral Health Advisory Board that the agency's sobering-and-triage site has enrolled 514 clients since December and that only about 8% of people were repeat admissions. \"Of those 514 clients, only 8% were duplicates,\" Kent said. He added that 74 to 81 percent of clients moved from sobering into withdrawal management or detox during that period.

The program, Kent said, provides walk-in access and immediate case management and a warm handoff to higher levels of care in the same building. \"You get a warm handoff. They get that exposure to treatment, to staff just from the very beginning,\" Kent said. He described same-day medication-assisted treatment (MAT) facilitation for clients who stay about eight hours: \"A 100% of individuals that have come into our services that have asked for it . . . if they stay that long, then they will get medication.\"

Justin Johnson, county staff, told the board STARS is the only local program offering walk-in, same-day engagement integrated with withdrawal management and same-day MAT without insurance barriers. \"STARS . . . is the only one in the community that currently allows for a walk in, same day engagement and provides wrap around care,\" Johnson said, adding that the city intends to contribute approximately $400,000 in opioid dollars to help expand services for another year and that county funding will also support STARS' continued operations.

Board members and community partners credited STARS' colocated model for reducing repeat visits and increasing treatment referrals. Kent attributed the decline in duplicate patients largely to easier access, same-building withdrawal management and the presence of case managers who remove barriers to continuing care. The program is renovating its facility to add more levels of care; Kent said the renovation could enable more comprehensive services in the same location within roughly two years.

Kent and county staff described logistical details for the STARS site: it is located on West Cali (public address provided in the meeting), has a walk-up doorbell and signage, and partners with outside providers for in-person MAT prescriptions. Kent said the program can accept callers or walk-ins and that people without phones can use posted directions. He also said STARS can provide services to people with some suicidal ideation so long as there is not an active plan.

Board discussion covered youth services and funding: Kent said adolescent sobering services remain under consideration but are currently cost-prohibitive. The board and members of the Consumer Consultation Panel praised STARS staff for outreach and for eliminating barriers that previously kept people from rapidly entering treatment.

Discussion vs. decisions: the presentation was informational; the board did not adopt new policy during the presentation but later voted to endorse the block grant plans that fund STARS and related programs. Board members indicated city and county short-term funding commitments to sustain expansion while the program works toward longer-term sustainability.

Ending: County staff said the STARS program is positioned for expansion through combined city and county funding and planned facility renovations, and he invited board members to contact program staff with follow-up questions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BHAB Meeting Visual Recording 06 02 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ryan Kent, a STARS representative, told the Spokane County Behavioral Health Advisory Board that the agency's sobering-and-triage site has enrolled 514 clients since December and that only about 8% of people were repeat admissions.","taxTitle","Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2643,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153945,"Under sheriff Chris Thompson to retire June 19; replacement introduced and a new community member joins the BHAB",63,25000,88000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489700-cd0243981e8595ffa1196759d18ec156&start=25&end=88","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489700-cd0243981e8595ffa1196759d18ec156/thumbnail_25000.jpg","/articles/6153945/Spokane-County/Washington/Under-sheriff-Chris-Thompson-to-retire-June-19-replacement-introduced-and-a-new-community-member-joins-the-BHAB","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153945-d99b52b335dfb16a32f862b0eda9bba5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773464149&Signature=eqqiosPRsyzB1grOqDdFOMBRkQi9Q0oZ4ggl8IOWMvBT-nxfwfX9CIo-h2GjB60BfgGFATUqih1Dpbg-VeX~IGj64poa5pfwfPxwcBtdqpKgWttwpjJbYWfAt5mtzd1w~-8xQIN~-a-3fQ5fN2v7fdHQjsOjIuMWb1E2vZpVRjwMrbs0zto7lShiecJQ2CjVYLtr1WwR9yyzGxLZBGodH2HFfGJ7V9M3FBc7FHDhTt1Ynajg-bGrG~GUX9gsJaheJaSSGN5VzN~3meHwIziQ2vb-5TY54zgo4oH7muDP6hFaHOfOiU07V683I~k1EzgEUzfd5FUCnooQXjwHvWNhtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Under sheriff Chris Thompson told the Spokane County Behavioral Health Advisory Board that he will retire from the sheriff's office on June 19 after nearly 35 years in public service. \"On June 19, I'll be retiring from the sheriff's office and, civilian law enforcement after just a bit more than 29 years in the civilian side and almost 35 in total,\" Thompson said.

Thompson said sheriff Knowles has selected his successor for the board seat: under sheriff Kilstad (name as introduced at the meeting). \"He'll be taking my spot, after this meeting today on this board, and his information is already submitted to the county for that appointment,\" Thompson said. County staff reminded the advisory board that the Board of County Commissioners must formally confirm the appointment under the county charter; the county indicated the BOCC is expected to vote on the appointment on the tenth (date in the transcript) as a formality.

The advisory board made a ceremonial motion to welcome both the incoming under sheriff and a newly introduced community member and to wish Thompson a happy retirement; the motion carried by voice/thumbs-up.

Karina Love introduced herself to the board as a community member who works as a housing and employment specialist and described outreach she does downtown. \"I am a currently a FCS, housing and employment specialist. . . . In August, I have 2 years. And since those 2 years, I spent a year, homeless and CPS case, name it,\" Love said, referring to her recovery from fentanyl and lived experience. She said she now helps people on the streets and wants to build community resource bridges.

Discussion vs. decision: Thompson's retirement was an announcement (discussion); the sheriff's nomination of under sheriff Kilstad was described as submitted for BOCC appointment (direction/administrative process) and the BHAB made a ceremonial welcoming motion (formal action recorded at the meeting but the formal appointment is subject to BOCC confirmation).

Ending: Board members thanked Thompson for his service and welcomed both under sheriff Kilstad (pending formal BOCC appointment) and Karina Love to the advisory body.

","Under sheriff Chris Thompson told the Behavioral Health Advisory Board he will retire June 19 after nearly 35 years in law enforcement; the sheriff has nominated under sheriff Kilstad as his replacement and Karina Love was introduced to the board as a new community member with lived experience.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153949,"County staff: block-grant allocations preserved for 2026; co-responder teams and county-city funding to expand crisis response",629,2457000,3086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489700-cd0243981e8595ffa1196759d18ec156&start=2457&end=3086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489700-cd0243981e8595ffa1196759d18ec156/thumbnail_2457000.jpg","/articles/6153949/Spokane-County/Washington/County-staff-block-grant-allocations-preserved-for-2026-co-responder-teams-and-county-city-funding-to-expand-crisis-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153949-0d31c79e2175b57cefd3331e4090a46f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773464149&Signature=FT65PEsQGn7rj5FQDOuVMB7yhkFyyvtWw5TYxH3~~hFFud8TLEPt9s8G~G5kWsMunXVMig51KW86q474QujTf0NLNCWSggV0xigHbFtKH~nd8y7ahFF5LrnV7~CAKyb0PbklDaUsVfavPyukqkx7qtoKlUZqjyPSY2g3aSYmob5i1UQv4Y36e6FMMdmzDtCcLvnq4PRglL1OxxBbHsh-O4KYjnmXsjA0akCxQkyuG8PaCs~-Ey7IpR~5PrEbZJfRlI60Axci8XVGP7EgmkL90rraUJVlxiKNNHmjEObHuyBBF6zM12AQnCQVnA4a2bEvrdeYjiqBFUeMWagdk0GMlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Justin Johnson, county staff member, told the Spokane County Behavioral Health Advisory Board that the region negotiated to avoid reductions in its 2026 state block-grant allocations despite earlier expectations of cuts tied to federal changes. \"We were able to also negotiate no changes to our existing funding to protect the ongoing work that we're doing,\" Johnson said.

Johnson told the board that the county will expand general-fund services for outpatient needs to more than $450,000 beginning July 1 to cover increased demand for outpatient services and medication management in rural areas. He said the county also plans two years of strategic planning with STARS and is working to make STARS' building ownership and renovations sustainable.

On co-responder teams, Johnson outlined an agreement the county expects to finalize with the City of Spokane to create four co-responder teams (two-person units pairing a paramedic and a behavioral health provider) to respond within city limits: \"Come the seventeenth, we do anticipate that the board will sign the co responder agreement with Spokane City to build out 4 teams of 2, paramedic and a behavioral health provider...\" He said state-designated co-responder funds are limited ($75,000) and not sufficient to fund a durable team, so the county is using mental-health sales tax and other local dollars to complete the program.

Johnson and other staff briefed the board about federal uncertainty. He said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) could undergo federal reorganization this year and that the county had to return $10 million to the state earlier but negotiated flexibility that preserved ongoing program allocations. He also referenced legislation described in the meeting as \"engrossed substitute hospital 18 13\" that the county said strengthens crisis response designation and flexibility with managed-care organizations.

Board action: later in the meeting the advisory board voted to endorse the mental-health and substance-use block-grant plans presented by county staff. The meeting showed a motion and a second; members indicated \"all in favor\" by thumbs-up and the motion carried.

Discussion vs. decision: county staff provided a substantive funding and legislative update (discussion). The board formally voted to approve the two block-grant plans as presented (decision). County staff noted that final contract-level disbursements and any federal changes in 2027 could alter allocations.

Ending: County staff said the region will monitor state and federal developments, continue close coordination with managed-care organizations and city partners, and report back to the board as plans and funding evolve.

","Spokane County staff told the Behavioral Health Advisory Board that state and federal block-grant allocations to the region were not reduced for the upcoming fiscal year, outlined planned county and city investments in crisis services, and described a planned co-responder pilot with Spokane Fire.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

STARS sobering-and-triage program reports steep drop in repeat clients and seeks expansion

Under sheriff Chris Thompson to retire June 19; replacement introduced and a new community member joins the BHAB

County staff: block-grant allocations preserved for 2026; co-responder teams and county-city funding to expand crisis response