Tumwater’s FDCARES program provides 911 callers with follow-up care and resources 

A Tumwater program, which links 911 callers to services that address the root causes of their calls, is showing positive results.

The Fire Department Community Assistance, Referral, and Education Services (FDCARES) program connects individuals to support services when their needs go beyond what emergency responders can address. 

Since February, the city has provided support for 23 individuals and is actively working to help 11 more, according to an update by FDCARES staff to the Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee on Tuesday, May 13. 

Individuals are referred to the program when 911 responders see they are at risk of calling again due to factors, such as poor health or living conditions 

FDCARES staff screen the individuals to determine the support they need and identify goals for them to work on through the help of local services that provide mental health, medical and other community resources. 

Ariana Gomez, a program staff member, highlighted a success story about a frequent 911 caller who reduced their calls by 40% after being referred to the program.  

Reducing repeat 911 calls is a key objective of the initiative. Sarena Bellovich, another staff member, said many individuals call 911 for nonemergency needs due to a lack of access to, or awareness of, other community services. 

Council member Leatta Dahlhoff asked the two staffers if they keep a list of resources which they could publish for the public. 

Bellovich said they do but will need more time before making it publicly available, as they need to make the list more comprehensive. 

Dahlhoff also asked if the Tumater Fire Department is planning to expand the program by hiring Gomez on a full-time basis. 

Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Crimmins said expansion is a matter of funding, but noted the current staff workload remains manageable. He added they will reconsider expansion in the future once they have more data from the program. 

Crisis response program 

An overlapping program is the city’s community-based crisis response program, which focuses on providing support and resources to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.. 

The fire department is partnering with Olympic Health and Recovery Services (OHRS) to launch the program. 

Joe Avalos, of OHRS, explained the program involves having a crisis clinician and a certified crisis peer responding to behavioral health crisis calls. 

Avalos added the program aligns with House Bill 1134, which implemented a statewide system for responding to behavioral health crises by designating 988 as the crisis hotline. 

The Washington State Healthcare Authority funds and oversees the program. Avalos said the agency will conduct an on-site review next week to determine full approval of the partnership. 

Once fully established, OHRS and the fire department will collaborate to define roles, develop dispatch protocols, enhance coordination and increase public exposure to the program.