This October brings a moment to reflect, recommit, and act. It’s a time to recognize the importance of mental health, honor those we serve, and renew our collective resolve toward hope, healing, and recovery.
I’m immensely proud to announce that SOUND has been selected by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) precertification. This marks a critical milestone on our path toward full CCBHC status, beginning statewide in January 2027. We’ll receive planning resources and technical support to build the systems, infrastructure, and workflows needed to transform how we deliver behavioral health care.
CCBHC isn’t simply a program—it’s system transformation that prioritizes value based, whole person care built on accountability, outcomes, and equity. We have an opportunity to reimagine how we serve communities, align with statewide efforts, and lead the way in Washington’s community behavioral health system. Find more here about Sound’s ongoing CCBHC journey.
In parallel, I’m excited to share that next year SOUND will launch the Zero Suicide framework—a system wide commitment to seeing, supporting, and safeguarding every person at risk. Implementing Zero Suicide means embedding suicide prevention into our culture, training, care design, transitions, and continuous improvement. Our goal is bold yet vital: making suicide a “never event” within our care system.
October also brings the anticipation of our SOUND of Hope Gala: Open Hearts, Open Doors, on November 22 at Fremont Studios. It’s a night to honor our community — sharing transformative client stories, hosting a unique auction, and celebrating with live entertainment by Hit Explosion and emcee Kelly Hanson from KING 5. But beyond celebration, the gala is a rallying point: a chance to invest in a future where healing, access, and connection are within reach for all.
This month is National Depression & Mental Health Screening Month—a reminder of how powerful awareness, early intervention, and care connection can be. It underscores why our work matters, and why the CCBHC momentum and Zero Suicide commitment are more than initiatives—they are imperatives.
I want to thank every member of our organization—clinical staff, leaders, operations, community partners, and supporters. Your dedication and vision have brought us to this moment. As we step into this next chapter, we’ll need your bold ideas, your energy, and your partnership more than ever. Together, we can reimagine care, save lives, and lead with hope.
Most sincerely,
Katrina Egner
SOUND President & CEO
At SOUND Behavioral Health, we are inspired when young people step up to make a difference in our community. A group of students from Mercer Island High School —Levi Jones, Ronan Buckley, and Connor Flume — have done just that with their initiative, 988 Find Your Peace.Through T-shirts and sweatshirts featuring the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 988, these students are helping normalize conversations about mental health and letting their peers know that support is always available. All profits from their apparel go directly to SOUND, helping us provide critical counseling, crisis intervention, housing support, and recovery services throughout King County.
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When SOUND clinician Marlene Andrews began volunteering at the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary, she noticed something unexpected. The animals, many of them rescued or recovering from neglect, required patience and consistency to build trust – much like the people she supported in her work at SOUND Behavioral Health. That realization planted the seed for what would become SOUND’s Animal Sanctuary program. In partnership with the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary, SOUND’s program is now a thriving part of the organization’s Child and Family Services offerings.
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Just a few short weeks ago, SOUND Behavioral Health welcomed more than 400 community members, partners, and supporters to Fremont Studios for the annual SOUND of Hope Gala — an evening dedicated to expanding access to mental health and substance use services across King County.
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