Committee roundtable highlights strain on Recovery Navigator programs, inconsistent metrics and referral ambiguity

During a community roundtable, committee members and provider representatives discussed local experiences with the Recovery Navigator Program (RNP). Speakers praised the program’s ability to reach people who might otherwise ‘‘slip through the cracks’’ and gave examples of successful hospital and law‑enforcement partnerships. At the same time, providers and peers reported heavy caseloads and difficulty demonstrating impact through standard activity reporting.

Several speakers said the program’s data systems capture high volumes of referrals and outreach attempts but do not always show whether referrals translated into outcomes. Amber (peer support specialist) and others emphasized relationship building and long‑term engagement that are hard to quantify. A hospital nurse from King County said her team had a positive experience using RNP for in‑patient discharge planning but was unsure how to initiate referrals directly.

Members also discussed the statutory and operational pathways for law‑enforcement referrals and pre‑arrest diversion. The committee noted that RCW expansions in 2023 broadened referral pathways, but local practices vary and law enforcement often does not label pre‑arrest social‑contact referrals explicitly as diversion, complicating consistent measurement of arrest‑avoidance outcomes.

Speakers urged HCA to help standardize outcome metrics and support guidance for referral pathways so providers and hospitals can use RNP consistently across regions.