Spokane long has been been known for its ability to bring people together to solve big problems or advance big opportunities. It's our hope that we are on to something again.

The Safe & Healthy Spokane Task Force is a coordinated leadership and development effort to bring together diverse perspectives to create a shared framework to transform the Spokane area's fragmented behavioral health, justice, and homelessness systems. 

The goal is to move the community from analysis to action in these areas using data to guide decisions. The effort should be applauded.

The task force holds promise as an effective engine of change, as it was built through a deliberate, cross-sector effort aimed at moving beyond competing narratives to establish a shared, evidence-based understanding of our region's challenges, rather than a one-sided approach. The group was assembled by bringing together leaders from the public, nonprofit, private, and community sectors in an effort to ensure all aspects of the behavioral health and justice systems are represented.

Perspectives include judicial leaders, law enforcement, health providers, hospital partners, responders, social service and housing partners, business leaders and agencies, and importantly includes individuals who have been directly impacted by these systems.

To date, the task force has completed a comprehensive, independent system assessment prepared by The Leifman Group, a consulting firm founded by retired Judge Steve Leifman, who previously developed a successful model in Miami-Dade County. The assessment was informed by extensive participation through interviews, focus groups, system mapping, document review, and the Spokane Behavioral Health and Justice Summit.

By integrating input from across these sectors, the task force is moving the community from a fragmented system of responses toward a unified three-tiered strategy for reform. Tiers include near-term steps that can be taken immediately with existing resources, midterm actions that will require some investment and research, and a long-term plan requiring major infrastructure and facility investments.

Achieving significant alignment among stakeholders who were previously siloed has been a strategic success of the task force so far. 

The next step for the group is to form subcommittees to develop detailed implementation plans, timelines, and measurable targets. The subcommittees include crisis response, diversion, housing, reentry, data integration, and workforce. Additionally, the group is implementing a tribal nations work group to provide input and integration into the next phase of implementation.

The group's work represents a significant shift in how the region has previously addressed complex social challenges. Unlike previous efforts, this initiative is built on a rare readiness for reform and a commitment to moving toward a unified, data-driven strategy. For what seems like the first time, leaders from the courts, law enforcement, health care providers, and businesses are working toward a shared vision and the development of a clear blueprint, rather than just identifying problems without solutions.

The ultimate goal of the task force is not just to fix gaps in the Spokane community, but to develop our region into a national model for behavioral health and justice reform. Through this important work, the community is positioned to improve public safety and enhance the overall quality of life for all residents.

Much is left to do with this effort, but we are hopeful.