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