County committee praises Swinomish-operated Division Street clinic after site visit; members highlight whole‑person, harm‑reduction approach

Members of the Behavioral Health Committee of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force reported on a May 19–20 field visit to a Swinomish-operated clinic on Division Street and said the clinic’s integrated, harm‑reduction approach offers design lessons for Whatcom County’s planned services.

Committee cochair Heather Flaherty, who led the field trip, said the clinic “is beautiful. It is smaller than you'd expect, but every detail is is really intentional down to the colors of the walls and the tile and security guards standing out front.” She and other committee members emphasized that the clinic treats “the whole person” by combining medication‑assisted treatment (methadone, buprenorphine/Suboxone) with primary care, dental care, case management, on‑site childcare, group and art therapy and transportation services.

Why it matters: committee members said the clinic’s culture, staff stability and…