The vision of BHCore is to establish standards of excellence and training in communities across our state to improve the quantity and quality of crisis services. To that end, we are engaging in data collection and analysis support, developing evidence-informed training, and supporting innovative programs for fire departments and other field response providers.
Our efforts are based on the latest science. BHCore training aligns with national best practices as outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the national Crisis Now model, and weekly Crisis Jams sessions.
We are central to a larger effort. States and municipalities are growing their crisis intervention services with new funding for 988 call centers. New initiatives include community based mobile crisis and co-response teams plus repositioned fire departments as central to local crisis response services. These efforts, along with new crisis stabilization centers, provide a much-needed alternative to 911 calls and emergency room care.
BHCore provides an annual report of its activities and impact in Washington state’s crisis response services. See our 2023 annual report.
Providing expert analysis and critical data to decisionmakers
Setting the Course for Behavioral Health in 2026: Our latest policy brief spotlights legislative changes that will strengthen the crisis-care continuum for people with behavioral health issues and increase support for the mental health and wellness of first responders. Read the policy brief here.
2024 Global Behavioral Health Crisis Care Principles: More than 100 public health leaders came together in June 2024 to develop global crisis care principles for decisionmakers. These principles are designed to help shape current delivery systems and improve outcomes for individuals affected by suicidal, mental health or substance use crises. See the full report here.
2024 Washington State Crisis Response Improvement Strategy Committee Report: Since 2021, this committee has summarized accomplishments and made recommendations for improvements to the state’s behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system. Read the latest report here.
Co-Response: An Essential Service— This comprehensive 2023 landscape analysis described the opportunities and barriers faced in Washington state’s crisis-response field; identified funding, training and technology gaps; and made recommendations to policymakers to improve co-response for individuals living with behavioral health issues. Read the full report or view a PowerPoint summary.