Dear King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda,

 

I am writing to express my strong support for the opening of Seattle Indian Health Board’s Thunderbird Treatment Center on Vashon Island as a critical solution to the ongoing opioid crisis. As a resident of Vashon for [#] years, I believe this facility represents hope, opportunity, and our community’s willingness to be part of the solution. 

 

The opioid epidemic has reached alarming levels in our region – and throughout the state – with increasing rates of overdose deaths, hospitalizations, and the high social and economic costs that accompany addiction. Despite efforts to provide appropriate care, there remains a significant gap in access to comprehensive treatment services for those struggling with addiction. Thunderbird Treatment Center would help to address this gap, providing the intensive inpatient care that many individuals need to achieve and sustain recovery.

 

Here are some key reasons why an inpatient treatment center is essential:

 

• Comprehensive Services: Thunderbird will provide access to behavioral health, individual and group counseling, and traditional healing practices, which is essential to our community.

• Inclusive Care: Thunderbird will provide access to community-based treatment and recovery for non-Native people struggling with substance use disorder.

• Proven Expertise: Seattle Indian Health Board brings over 50 years of experience to Vashon and over 30 years of experience operating a residential treatment program.

• Focused Mission: Seattle Indian Health Board specializes in the health and well-being of underserved communities, people who are disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis. 

 

Seattle Indian Health Board will bring more than 50 years of experience to Vashon; the agency operated a residential treatment center in South Seattle for more than 30 years without incident. They have proven to be a good neighbor in every community they have operated in throughout King County, and we believe they will be an excellent neighbor to us on Vashon Island. 

 

I urge you and your fellow council members to support this initiative and help to ensure Thunderbird Treatment Center opens on Vashon Island in 2025. Your leadership and commitment to addressing this crisis can make a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals and families. 

 

Sincerely,

 

[Your Name]

 

Cc: 

Senator Patty Murray

Senator Maria Cantwell

Governor Jay Inslee

King County Council Chair Dave Upthegrove

King County Council Vice-Chair Reagan Dunn

King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay

King County Councilmember Sarah Perry

King County Councilmember Jorge L. Barón

King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci

King County Councilmember Peter Von Reichbauer

King County Executive Dow Constantine

King County Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock

King County Chief of Staff Karan Gill

King County Budget Director Dwight Dively

King County Director of Customer Service Natasha Jones

King County Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams

King County Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Anita Whitfield

King County Chief Performance Officer Gary Kurihara

King County Director of Office of Labor Relations Megan Pedersen

 

teresa.mosqueda@kingcounty.gov

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hart_clements@murray.senate.gov; Maria_Cantwell@cantwell.senate.gov;

joby.shimomura@gov.wa.gov; Dave.Upthegrove@kingcounty.gov; Reagan.Dunn@kingcounty.gov; Rod.Dembowski@kingcounty.gov; Girmay.Zahilay@kingcounty.gov; Sarah.Perry@kingcounty.gov; Jorge.Baron@kingcounty.gov; Claudia.Balducci@kingcounty.gov; Pete.Vonreichbauer@kingcounty.gov;  dow.constantine@kingcounty.gov; shannon.braddock@kingcounty.gov; karan.gill@kingcounty.gov; dwight.dively@kingcounty.gov; natasha.jones@kingcounty.gov; whitney.abrams@kingcounty.gov; gary.kurihara@kingcounty.gov; megan.pedersen@kingcounty.gov