Community leaders, health officials and people with lived experience close Gabriel’s Challenge urging sustained fentanyl response

Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson welcomed participants to the final Gabriel’s Challenge community session on fentanyl, thanking organizers and urging attendees to share what they learned with neighbors.

“The most important thing to me, it has created a new community,” Wilkerson said, noting the sessions helped break down barriers and encouraged continued local action.

The session brought presentations from Coordinated Care of Washington, a Medicaid managed-care plan, public-health updates from Spokane Regional Health District, perspectives from Municipal Court Judge Gloria Ochoa Brook, Native Project leadership and several people in recovery. Speakers outlined existing treatment and harm-reduction programs, data tools and outreach efforts while calling for more coordinated, sustained community action rather than short-term effort.

“Katie Ramos, licensed mental health clinician and behavioral health contracting manager” with Coordinated Care described low- or no-referral access to outpatient behavioral health services for plan members and listed programs the plan provides, including a proactive 0 Overdose program to identify members at heightened risk and help with safety planning and access to medication and treatment. “Medications and treatment are at no cost,” Ramos said, adding that Coordinated Care offers care navigation and supports ranging from telehealth counseling to detox and supportive housing referrals.

Kelsey Van Horn, identified as vice president for Apple Health and Medicaid at Coordinated Care, said the plan’s…