Goal #1: Improve the health status and wellbeing of Kitsap County residents. Objective #1: Decrease the impact of systemic racism on the mental health and wellbeing of Kitsap County’s communities of color. Strategies include: • Examine funding priorities and decision-making process from an equity lens. • Examine policy and procedures with an equity lens, including evaluating common practices. • Involve communities of color in shaping funding decisions, performance outcomes and evaluation. Objective #2: Expand prevention and early intervention programs for youth. Strategies include: • Increase capacity of programs that provide evidence-based prevention and early intervention programs. • Promote proactive support for student well-being in schools starting at elementary. • Deliver culturally relevant materials, education and outreach. Objective #3: Increase Trauma Informed Care training, policies and practices. Strategies include: • Provide education on equity, inclusion, diversity and historical trauma to the behavioral health workforce. • Provide targeted funding for organizations to invest in trauma-informed care. • Require workforce policy and procedures be developed through a trauma informed lens. Goal #2: Reduce the incidence and severity of chemical dependency and/or mental health disorders in adults and youth. Objective #1: Increase the variety and options of nontraditional behavioral health treatment programs and approaches. Strategies include: • Fund nontraditional treatment approaches including Housing First Workforce Development programs and Harm Reduction programs - neuroscience informed and body-based. • Develop culturally appropriate and sensitive programs and services for individuals who shy away from traditional behavioral health approaches. • Establish behavioral health support groups with a focus on the needs of gay, lesbian, transgender and questioning youth. Objective #2: Address service gaps along the behavioral health Continuum of Care, especially targeting services for children, youth and the aging populations. Strategies include: • Establish more certified youth behavioral health treatment providers county wide including outlying areas of the County. • Ensure behavioral health treatment services are available in all of the schools at all of the age levels. • Establish in home behavioral health services for individuals who are struggling to age in place.
