County plans February Sequential Intercept Model update to guide diversion and reentry work

Dean White, working with the Administrative Office of the Courts and local partners, told the steering committee that the county is planning a one-and-a-half- to two-day workshop the week of Feb. 23 to update the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) used to guide diversion and reentry planning.

"One of the recommendations put forward by the village reach report was that we update the sequential intercept model material... we've reached out to the administrative office of the courts, to see whether they are still interested in porting that kind of an update," Dean said. He described a plan for facilitators and a convening of 50 to 60 stakeholders and said Chuckanut Health Foundation will help with logistics and Heather's office will support planning.

Why it matters: Steering members said an updated SIM will help identify intercept points where people can be diverted from the criminal legal system into community-based care, a core input for sizing the county's proposed jail and behavioral care center and for prioritizing diversion-related work groups.

Deliverables and timing: Dean said planners aim to produce an updated SIM and implementation recommendations from the workshop; Heather and other staff will follow up with venue and scheduling details. "It's being planned for the week of February 23," Dean said. Steering members invited volunteers to help plan and to ensure the event builds on prior local work rather than duplicating efforts.

Next steps: Staff will coordinate planning, invite stakeholders, and bring the draft SIM update and recommended next steps to the IPRTF for discussion and incorporation into the 2026 action plan.