Summary

In response to a 2020 budget proviso sponsored by King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, King County is seeking input on mental health and addiction recovery treatment needs from those who live or work in rural areas.

Story

In response to a 2020 budget proviso sponsored by King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, King County is seeking input on mental health and addiction recovery treatment needs from those who live or work in rural areas.

King County’s seventh COVID supplemental budget proposal – released last week – includes $4 million dedicated toward improving behavioral health services in King County. Feedback will help inform how this potential funding is invested to improve and expand access to behavioral health services in rural King County. 

This past Saturday, Dunn helped kick-off a listening session to hear directly from community members about their needs.

 “Because of my own experience, I know the absolute necessity of giving folks who struggle with addiction the help that they need to recover,” Dunn said. “We need to find out what forms of treatment are most in demand in rural areas so we can begin to fill those service gaps.”

This listening session is part of a larger community engagement effort, in partnership with Washington Recovery Alliance and the King County Recovery Coalition. In addition to the listening session, rural residents and those who work in rural areas of King County can fill out a response survey by April 11 at: www.publicinput.com/RuralKCBehavioralHealthNeeds. 

All information will be kept confidential. Information will be summarized and shared in a way that does not identify anyone. You may skip any questions you prefer not to answer. At the end of this survey you will have the option to share your responses anonymously in future public reporting of rural needs.

The $4 million in rural behavior health funding still needs to be approved by the King County Council as a part of the COVID supplemental budget process. If the funding is approved, the Executive will have until May 31^st to transmit an implementation plan, and the Council will have 30 days to object.