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Response Systems
Response Systems programs focus on serving people who lack adequate care for behavioral health challenges. Many of these community members rely heavily on 911, crisis services, or are caught up in the legal system.
Read more about specific Response Systems programs at the links below:
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ART Program
A Bellingham program that sends a behavioral health specialist and a public health nurse to respond to specific non-violent behavioral health 911 calls. The Alternative Response Team (ART) is an innovative program that benefits people having mental or behavioral health challenges, and our police personnel, allowing them to respond to other emergent calls requiring law enforcement intervention.
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Crisis Stabilization Center
The Anne Deacon Center for Hope is a crisis stabilization center serving adults in Whatcom County and the North Sound Region. The Center for Hope offers short term, in-patient substance use disorder and behavioral health support services. Services offered at the Center for Hope are provided by Compass Health and Pioneer Human Services.
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GRACE Program
Ground-Level Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) program provides intensive support to people who are frequent users of emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement (LE), hospital emergency department (ED), and the Whatcom County jail.
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LEAD Program
The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which works with people with multiple low-level criminal offenses.
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Mental Health Court
Mental Health Court provides wrap around support to promote engagement in mental health care, recovery and wellness with a goal of preventing future involvement in the criminal justice system.
Link to page
Additional Resources
Our Response Systems Services 2022-2024 Timeline illustrates a roadmap overview for programs and services.
Behavioral Health Training
The Respond Whatcom Behavioral Health Training is a multi-part series designed to give first responders, behavioral health workers, and other professionals a closer look at behavioral health in our community. The training was created under the guidance of these leaders, who offered their expertise throughout the training development process. A comprehensive look at behavioral health is offered through this training, featuring the voices of people who have utilized behavioral health services, families, and those working in the field.
If you are a first responder, behavioral health worker, or other related professional, sign up for this free online training here. This training is not currently available for the general public.
If you need technical assistance, please contact Riley Myers at [email protected].