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July 27, 2025

SOUND in The Seattle Times: How King County is reshaping its mental health crisis response system

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Crisis Connections dispatchers send information to teamsrun by one of two organizations. The Downtown Emergency Service Center, ahousing and homeless services nonprofit, responds to calls in Seattle andVashon Island. Sound Behavioral Health, a nonprofit health care organization,covers the rest of King County. 

On a June afternoon, seven crisis responders awaitedcalls in Sound’s Auburn office, decorated with Pride and Juneteenth posters andsuperhero figurines. By the door, the keys to specially equipped vans werestored in a lockbox and red backpacks serving as “go bags” were stocked withthe overdose-reversing drug naloxone.

King Countyhas contracted with DESC for mobile crisis services for adults since 2009, but added 10 new teams starting in December for a total of 27. The two organizations operate teams 24/7. 

Read the full article on The Seattle Times website.

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