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1. Why the Parkland-Spanaway area?

There has been an increasing number of behavioral health crisis incidents occurring in central and southern Pierce County. The only crisis care facility in Pierce County is located in Fife. It is challenging for first responders from central and southern Pierce County due to the distance and time required to get to that facility. To provide easier access, the new crisis recovery center will be located near the junction of SR 7 & SR 512, at the request of first responders.

2. Will students, staff, and families be safe?

Yes. Recovery Innovations, a national leader in crisis care and operator of an identical facility in Fife, will operate the Parkland Crisis Recovery Center (CRC). Recovery Innovations has cared for 20,000 patients over 8-years in Pierce County, without a single incident of harm to the public.

3. Will a new crisis care facility impact homelessness?

We know that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness and substance addictions. A new crisis care facility will help them and others get the care they need, which for many is the first step toward stable housing.

4. Will the CRC make the Parkland area a “dumping ground” for high risk individuals?

No, patients taken to the facility for crisis care stay an average of 48 hours and then are transported away from the facility and returned to their home, to another facility, or, in a few cases, to a shelter, if homeless. The longest stay is 14 days. We know that there has been an influx of people in need of mental health and drug addiction services in the Parkland/Spanaway area; the CRC will offer a needed service to get them the help they need but are not getting now.

5. What happens to a patient not stabilized after 48 hours?

48 hours is the average stay, but patients can stay up to 14 days. For those who need care longer than 14 days, they are assessed and sent to an inpatient hospital or evaluated for possible detention at an evaluation and treatment facility (4 in Pierce Co.).

6. What will be the staffing to patient ratio?

There is a maximum of 16 patients at any one time and there will be a 1:3 staff-to patient ratio. At the Fife crisis care facility operated by Recovery Innovations, every shift has nursing staff, a mental health professional, a discharge coordinator(s), and peer staff.

7. What are the conditions of guests?

All guests are triaged immediately for appropriateness for the facility. Individuals with violent behavior are diverted by law enforcement to another location. Guests present primarily with mental illness conditions, for example suicidal behaviors. If guests arrive under the influence of a chemical substance, and cannot be stabilized, they are sent to a more appropriate facility. The CRC is very different from Western State Hospital, which cares for long-term patients and those who may have violent histories

8. What harm issues do you expect or have you experienced?

Staff are trained in verbal and physical deescalation. They have access to fast-acting sedatives. The center also has a room that is suitable for seclusion and restraints, but it is rarely used. Because a risk assessment is done upon arrival, the clinician quickly determines next steps, and turns away or transfers patients that may be a risk to others. The center cannot take patients who may traumatize other patients, or harm staff.

9. Will first responders transporting patients be using lights and sirens?

No, the CRC is not an ER, and does not take patients with acute medical conditions. First responders to the Fife facility do not EVER operate their lights and sirens when dropping off patients. Lights and sirens are only used in the rare event a guest has sudden medical emergency. Today, there are already police cars going in and out of the site as it is operated by the Dept. of Emergency Management to outfit law enforcement vehicles with electronics and radios.

10. Who has keycards and how are they safeguarded?

All staff have keycards because it is a locked facility. Lost keycards, and keycards of terminated staff, are immediately deactivated.

11. Are visitors permitted and if so what restrictions are required?

Visitors ages 18 and above are permitted if a visit is in the guest’s best interests. Visitors are not allowed to bring food or drink. The center has strict rules as to items permitted in the center. Visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. All visitors must sign the confidentially log when they enter, get a badge and sign out when leaving.

12. Where will the CRC be placed on the county property?

The structure will be more than 650 feet off of 112th St. E. and will not be visible from the road. A thick stand of trees and foliage (wetlands) serving as a buffer between 112th and the facility.