A Washington town’s proactive approach to mental health care starts on the street

As the sole embedded clinical social worker with the Mount Vernon Police Department, Erin von Fempe provides long-term care and resources to people dealing with addiction, homelessness and mental health issues that go beyond immediate crisis response.
(Produced by Ramon Dompor / The Seattle Times)
This story was originally published Sep. 4, 2022.
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[@PDogB]

Maybe after the closing statement about success being "not important in their lives," we are given an example of that. Who makes that call when help becomes unimportant? How do you measure recidivism in mental illness during and after an extended stay in a hotel? And where are the preventative mental health services before people start living on the streets, addicted to whatever, etc?

[@markfcoble]

Sure, more free stuff! Jobs, no thanks!

[@bristolcorvid8894]

All of this should be handled in the jail system:
*drug and alcohol treatment.
*Mandatory therapy, job skill training, and accountability.
It is abhorrent and completely indefensible how far Washington State allowed itself to fall.
Billions and billions of tax payer money is thrown into a black hole. Zero accountability. Zero honest conversations about the caliber of its politicians. Zero accountability of what it means to run healthy, functional and prosperous towns and cities.
What a sick joke.