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Council Honors Seattle Indian Health Board’s Esther Lucero with 2024 Recovery Champion Award
September 24, 2024
The King County Council on Tuesday presented the 2024 King County Recovery Champion Award to Esther Lucero, President and CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board.
Lucero was recognized by the King County Council for addressing health disparities and inequities faced by American Indians and Alaska Natives. Under her leadership, Seattle Indian Health Board has led efforts to provide treatment and recovery services for both the Native community and the larger King County community.
The organization developed one of the county's first low-barrier treatment clinics offering buprenorphine and has integrated Traditional Indian Medicine healing practices for those struggling with substance use disorder.
Lucero is also leading efforts to combat the opioid crisis by spearheading the reopening of the Thunderbird Treatment Center on Vashon Island in 2025. The 92-bed residential treatment facility will be the largest of its kind in the state and increase the number of inpatient treatment beds in King County by 62%.
Created in 2022 through legislation proposed by Dunn and co-sponsored by Councilmember Sarah Perry, the King County Recovery Champion Award recognizes a person or organization within King County that has demonstrated hard work and passion in helping those with substance use disorders.
The award presentation coincides with the Council’s proclamation of Recovery Month, a nationwide observance that occurs every September to celebrate the gains made by those in recovery from substance use and mental health. The tagline of the 2024 Recovery Month is “The Art of Recovery”—a reminder that no one is alone on their journey and that we are all in this together.
Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.
We as a Council are proud to honor Esther Lucero for her dedication to helping folks in King County recover from substance use disorders, particularly through her focus on expanding access to culturally attuned inpatient treatment. Esther’s work, day in and day out, requires immense heart and persistence, and she is truly deserving of this award.