The Mount Vernon Police Department recognizes that there are more appropriate professionals to response to certain calls than officers. Integrated Outreach Services’ mission is to provide behavioral health responses, when appropriate, to community situations and to help people with longer term solutions so that there are less 911 calls from or about them. IOS provides independent response to some types of 911 calls. MSWs go out in pairs to calls involving behavioral health and poverty issues without police officers to provide support so that officers do not have to respond. IOS might help someone get to detox, go to the drop-in center or shelter, or help facilitate a psychiatric hospitalization.

The other part of IOS includes 2 staff who provide longer term care coordination for some people who the independent responders have met. This pair takes a comprehensive view of people to help them recover their lives by finding areas that they would like to change, ex. reuniting with family, obtaining employment, finding a home, or getting into behavioral health services. Some ways to further develop authentic relationships involve inviting people to participate in community activities like attending the Skagit County Fair, or participating with IOS staff to help with a neighborhood clean-up.

Provide authentic human connection to people without homes experiencing behavioral health and social justice issues. Listen for and help generate change talk and develop plans to support the change using Recovery principles. Create opportunities for people to (re)connect to the community at large to promote healing and hope. Some examples include providing outreach to people experiencing homelessness offering basic supplies, helping people connect with traditional outpatient services, resolve some types of legal issues, share a meal with someone, walk a dog from the PD’s kennel or play frisbee golf. Opportunities for more in depth interactions are available for residents of two established housing projects. Individuals who would like to receive some counselling from those projects could be offered services by the intern.

Opportunities to facilitate groups are available if this is an interest of the intern. There are, at times, projects like contingency management or short-term employment groups which are offered to various groups that the intern could participate in.

There are a few opportunities to have some macro experiences. There is exposure to the effect of various local, state and federal policies and some opportunities to inform communities members to aid in reducing stigma.

Potential candidates will be asked to participate in an interview. If acceptable to both parties, a polygraph, limited background check and evaluation of driving skills will be required.

Contact Erin von Fempe at erinv@mountvernonwa.gov or 360-840-1324