Summary

The King County Council unanimously approved Executive Constantine’s plan to implement the Crisis Care Centers initiative to bring five crisis care centers to the county, preserve and restore residential treatment beds, and strengthen the behavioral health workforce.

Story

Today King County Executive Dow Constantine’s plan to implement the Crisis Care Centers initiative was unanimously approved by the King County Council, ushering in one of the largest investments in the region’s behavioral health system in decades.

King County is investing more than $1 billion over the next nine years to expand access to crisis care services, creating five new walk-in facilities where people experiencing a behavioral health crisis can receive help. Together, the centers will aim to serve as many as 70,000 people annually.

“We’re facing a behavioral health crisis and there is an urgent, growing need for care. That’s why at King County, we’re building a behavioral health system that is connected, accessible, and culturally responsive — providing the help people need and deserve,” said Executive Constantine. “In partnership with councilmembers, cities, providers, workers, and community members, we’re putting this plan in action to open the first crisis care center as soon as possible.”