A new behavioral health unit based in Poulsbo will be available to respond to a variety of emergency mental illness, mental health, substance use and behavioral health calls in North Kitsap beginning in January.
Associated with the Poulsbo Fire Department, the new, two-person unit will be available to respond to fire and police referrals throughout North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island. Organized as a fire CARES unit (Community Assistance, Referral, and Education Service) like other similar units in the state, it’ll consist of a firefighter with crisis intervention training and a behavioral health professional who can respond to crisis situations and on follow-ups with people who are identified as needing support.
Firefighters on calls will refer patients to the unit, and those professionals would connect identified patients to other local services and care providers and ideally help to prevent crisis situations.