1) Are there other programs like the Crisis Solutions Center elsewhere and where are they sited? Facilities similar to the CSC are currently operating in the following Counties in Washington State:

Telecare-Pierce County Evaluation and Treatment (E&T) in Pierce County

Spokane Mental Health

The Whatcom County Behavioral Health Triage Center

Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health in Yakima County

Skagit County Community Services

Thurston County Mental Health Outpatient Programs

ALL of these facilities are sited and operated 1) on hospital premises 2) on jail premises 3) in an industrial area with NO residential homes.

2) Who will be served by the Crisis Solutions Center?
The CSC will serve adults experiencing a crisis due to emotional, mental, or substance use disorders. DESC states they estimate 30% of individuals admitted to the CSC will be under arrest because they have committed a crime. Similar crisis triage centers are located directly on site of a hospital, a jail or an industrial area with no residential homes within close proximity. Currently there are NO crisis triage centers that offer jail diversion located in a residential neighborhood in Washington State.

4) Will there be safeguards at the Crisis Solutions center to protect the community?
A facility that requires doors with time-released locks and alarms assumes that individuals have the potential to pose a safety risk to the neighborhood. If individuals at the CSC pose no safety risk to the neighborhood, why does the facility require time-released locks and alarms if the individual attempts to leave? If the program does not accept people with a violent criminal history, why is it necessary for the program staff to be trained in aggressive behavior management?

5) What is the process for arrival/admission to the program?
DESC states that prior to referral, all potential participants will be screened for violence, assaultive backgrounds and violent behaviors. Will all police officers, DESC Mobile Crisis Team staff, Medic One or ambulance staff, or King County Designated Metal Health Professions have equal access to the law enforcement databases to screen participants for violence potential? Does this database provide information on a national level or is it restricted to Washington State? Will this database provide information on aliases? How will participating referrers know what criminal background is permissible for admission to the program?

6) What happens when participants are discharged from the program?
DESC states that all Crisis Solutions Center participants will be escorted from the facility by DESC staff, police, or ambulance and returned to their home, the community from which they came, new housing, a shelter for homeless persons, hospital or another acceptable destination. If the individual was brought to the facility by Bellevue Police, and he or she walks out of the facility, does that mean the Bellevue Police will have to come from Bellevue to pick up the individual?

7) What about unauthorized departures from the program?
DESC states if a participant who is in the program tries to walk away from the facility, two DESC staff members will accompany the person to monitor his or her behavior and continue efforts to persuade him or her to return to the facility or accept a ride to his or her next destination. Seattle Police will be called immediately if the participant is perceived to be a threat to people or property, or if the person was brought to the facility by police after having committed a chargeable offense. DESC staff will accompany the person until either the police respond and detain the person or he/she has left the neighborhood. The staff members following the person will carry walkie-talkies in order to maintain constant communication with staff at the facility. How many staff members will be required to follow this individual on foot through the community? What happens if the facility is experiencing a number of crisis situations simultaneously and there are no available staff members to follow the individual on foot through the community? On a typical rainy evening, if someone ran out of the facility, two of DESC’s staff members will run after the person through the neighborhood? What happens if the person enters someone’s property? Will the staff members follow, too? What authority will they be relying upon to follow the person onto someone’s property? Since DESC acknowledges the possibility of someone leaving the facility without permission, can it be guaranteed that if someone indeed leaves, DESC staff members will absolutely prevent that person from causing harm to any member of our community?

8) Are there aspects of the physical facility design that protect the neighborhood?
DESC states the building is specifically designed to ensure that unauthorized entries and exits cannot occur. Is DESC saying their staff members can guarantee unauthorized entries and exits will not occur? If the facility is designed to ensure unauthorized entries and exits, why does DESC state staff members will follow unauthorized departures on foot throughout the neighborhood?

9) What impact will police, ambulance and program staff vehicle traffic to and from the facility have on the neighborhood?
DESC states they anticipate 10 to 20 first responder or DESC Mobile Crisis Team vehicle arrivals/departures each day, in addition to 85 program staff.  This would add 105+ vehicle arrivals/departures each day to a single lane street in a primarily residential neighborhood. To date, a vehicle traffic impact study has not been conducted.

10) Will you have security personnel on-site?
DESC states all program staff will be trained in aggressive behavior management and other safety techniques. Security functions are fully integrated into program operations. DESC has stated on more than one occasion that individuals admitted into the facility do not pose a safety risk to the neighborhood. If there is no safety risk to the neighborhood, why is DESC fully integrating security functions into the program operations?