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Whatcom subcommittee reviews reentry, Division Street campus and mobile clinic updates
Summary
Members received status updates on reentry/diversion workgroup planning, a Division Street behavioral‑health campus concept for 2030 Division Street, and outreach needs for a local mobile medical unit serving medication and minor medical needs.
Subcommittee members provided brief updates on three related operational efforts: a reentry and diversion workgroup, planning for a behavioral‑health campus at 2030 Division Street, and outreach for a mobile medical unit.
Brian Estes said the reentry and diversion workgroup will meet next Monday and plans to review diversion programs and reentry supports; he also said Deborah Ollie is stepping down from the workgroup and members discussed recruiting people with lived experience to preserve that perspective.
Nut graf: The subcommittee is serving primarily as a recommending body to identify needs and principles for local programs. Members emphasized the importance of lived‑experience representation for reentry work and discussed employer partnerships and vocational pathways for people leaving custody.
Dan Hamill and other members described 2030 Division Street as an emerging behavioral‑health campus housing the alternate response team, mobile medical units and the Anne Deacon Center; the county will relocate the current work center when the new jail opens and the group will develop recommendations for future use of the facility. Hamill said the county is monitoring funding for a planned 23‑hour behavioral care center located on that site.
Dan also asked the committee to help publicize outreach for a mobile medical unit. He said outreach coordinator Leon John and executive director Bev Keys are working to increase patient referrals for medication‑assisted treatment (buprenorphine/Suboxone) and other services; committee members offered to share materials and suggested using practicum students to assist distribution.
Ending: The workgroups will continue meetings in coming weeks and report recommendations to the subcommittee. No formal actions or funding commitments were made at the April 15 meeting.
