We conducted a data-driven community assessment(click the link) and the community voted on these top 3 priorities for Spokane County: 1. Reduce the impacts of family trauma and violence. 2. Increase access and services for residents with co-occuring substance abuse and mental health issues. & 3. Improve the availability of affordable housing.

Based on the 3 priorities identified, we surveyed and met with stakeholders and organizations working in these sectors. We held monthly community presentations to learn and gather information. We reviewed research and data before our steering committee ultimately voted on our next priority: reducing the impacts of family trauma and violence. We recognized this as a root cause of many of the other problems we face including homelessness. Here’s what this prioritization process looked like for this priority.(click link)

Priority Spokane partnered with the Spokane Regional Health District to convene community stakeholders for a regional mapping process(click on link) focused on the priority of reducing family trauma and violence as well as behavioral health. Through research and the use of the Family Trauma & Violence Map we developed an evidence-based plan to prevent trauma and violence through the expansion of Peer Support in Spokane County. See our awesome collaborative plan here.(click link)

In light of COVID-19 we re-evaluated our plan and adapted it to meet new and changing needs. We accomplished the following: 1. Partnered with the national Center for Trauma & Stress Education to develop STEP (Stress & Trauma Education Program) to address community level stress and trauma and aid in employee support and retention. We partnered with Eastern Washington University School of Social Work to administer STEP.  STEP is now being used across Washington State & nationally to rave reviews! 2. We funded the creation of a Spokane County Peer Support Network through a grant to Peer Spokane. Check it out here. (click link) 3. We led the creation of a free virtual tutoring and mentoring service for students in K-8th in direct response to the pandemic in partnership with Gonzaga University and Communities in Schools as well as establishing a curated online educational resource directory to aid parents teaching their kids at home. Together these tools/services served over 65,000 students and families.

In progress! Our work is always evaluated and measured so we can learn & demonstrate what works & what doesn’t.  Here’s some of what evaluation of our STEP program has shown us: 94% of participants found our STEP program helpful. 87% of participants feel prepared to respond to stress and trauma as a result of STEP. 72% continue using STEP after six weeks. 65% of participants experienced lower to significantly lower stress as a result of STEP. (See additional information here)

Here’s some additional information from STEP:

73% of Medical Workers cited not being listened to or heard as a top reason for considering or choosing to leave their jobs., 84% of STEP participants believe significant trauma has occurred over the course of the pandemic. 

In process! After evaluating the results, we look for areas of improvement. In light of COVID-19, we’ve had to make multiple changes and improvements to our current plan including finding innovative ways to reach families (aka our Prime Time Tutoring Service) and address the new trauma caused by the pandemic (the COVID Stress & Trauma Education Program).