Olympia and Tumwater eye expansion of CARES Program

The Olympia City Council is poised to approve  a resolution authorizing an amendment to an interlocal agreement with the City of Tumwater to expand the Community Assistance Referral and Education Services (CARES) Program.

The amendment would increase Tumwater’s funding contribution to Olympia to $122,500 annually. It would allow a part-time CARES position to become a full-time role. This change would increase service availability by 20 additional hours per week for residents in both Olympia and Tumwater.

The resolution is included on the consent calendar for the Olympia City Council’s special meeting on Monday, Nov. 3.

Developed by the Olympia Fire Department, CARES is designed to serve vulnerable populations after 911 emergency services have been utilized. The program focuses on areas of social well-being, physical health, housing concerns, chronic illness and overall safety of people.

The program provides follow-up support that connects clients to social services, housing resources, mental health care and health care providers, helping them to achieve long-term stability and reduce dependence on emergency response systems.

“CARES bridges the gap between emergency services and supportive care through client-centered treatment planning and community partnerships,” a staff report on the issue states.

The collaboration with the Tumwater Fire Department would expand CARES outreach across both cities, which often share service populations. Officials say the partnership aims to improve public health outcomes, while easing the strain on emergency departments.

The Olympia Fire Department noted that proactive outreach and education through CARES not only improves individual well-being, but also contributes to reduced emergency calls and related costs.

The interlocal agreement between the two cities was initiated in November 2024.

Olympia provides Tumwater residents with services, including screening individuals to identify specific needs, referring them to appropriate community and county resources, conducting targeted outreach and education, and maintaining data outcomes and quality assurance.