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Summary
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced $16.8 million in awards to behavioral health providers across the region — strengthening the local workforce and creating opportunities to support, retain, and recruit employees.
Story
Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the county’s largest-ever investment in the behavioral health workforce, a crucial step towards meeting the growing need for mental health and substance use care. King County is awarding $12 million to help 37 behavioral health providers support, retain, and recruit employees, strengthening the local workforce, with an additional $4.8 million to expand the SEIU Training Fund’s apprenticeship program.
Supporting behavioral health workers is a key part of the Crisis Care Centers Initiative, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2023. The initiative will invest more than $160 million over nine years in the behavioral health workforce, which has struggled to maintain staffing levels nationwide.
“Everyone working in behavioral health — crisis responders, outreach teams, peer specialists, mental health professionals, and many more — has been diligently caring for the rising number of people who need help, while simultaneously facing a workforce crisis,” said Executive Constantine. “King County is committed to supporting this critical workforce and investing in the skills and training these jobs require, because it takes people to treat people.”
Over 30 local behavioral health agencies will be awarded funding to support staff and grow their teams to better serve communities across King County. At least 25% of this investment will increase representation in behavioral health care.
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