Spokane City Council adopts Mayor's proposal to invest opioid settlement dollars

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane City Council passed Mayor Lisa Brown's proposal to invest an initial allocation of opioid investment funds toward programs that will help those who struggle with substance abuse disorders.

“The passage of this funding allocation is a step forward in our commitment to community safety supporting people struggling with opioid use disorder. We are expanding a proven model and increasing our case management capacity which is designed to ultimately decrease taxpayer costs associated with jail, emergency room, and shelter use,” Mayor Brown said.

The ordinance will give $500,000 to help expand the Spokane Fire Department’s Community Assistance Response (CARES) program. The program provides ongoing case management services.

The City says the funds will add a social worker, substance use disorder professional, and case manager to the CARES team, increasing the caseload capacity from 600 to 1,5000 cases focused on opioid use disorders.

There's also an extra $500,000 going toward creating a High Utilizer and Complex Care Initiative, which includes a contract with a community-based provider to coordinate care, provide intense wrap-around services and launched case management service for people cycling in jail, emergency departments and local shelters.

“The growth of opioid usage in our community has reached the level of a crisis,” Council President Betsy Wilkerson said. “Council is committed to doing what it takes to combat this crisis, and the allocations of funding for community care is a step in the direction of providing resources that can aid those cycling through the system of provider care.”

The City says this is the first allocation of opioid settlement dollars. The City anticipates getting $13.3 million over 17 years.

READ: Mayor Brown proposes over $11 million investment in Spokane's health and human services

READ: Spokane Police Department struggles to curb open drug use in the city

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