SEATTLE, WA – Yesterday U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Rachel Levine, visited International Community Health Services (ICHS) in Washington’s Ninth District for the first stop on the National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Admiral Levine were joined by Deputy Secretary for Prevention, Safety & Health Lacy Fehrenbach, Washington State Health Care Authority Director Sue Birch, and International Community Health Services (ICHS) President and CEO Teresita Batayola for a tour of ICHS and a roundtable discussion about our nation’s mental health crisis and the steps we can take to address it. Rep. Smith issued the following statement following the visit.
 
“It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges across the country, resulting in a national mental health crisis, and we must do more to address it. Yesterday I had the privilege of participating in the first stop on the National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health – hearing from patients and providers about our behavioral and mental health care needs and moderating a conversation about the steps we can take to bolster behavioral and mental health care systems in our communities.
 
“Yesterday’s conversation was a great opportunity to discuss funding deficiencies, specifically related to the capacity of our mental health care system. Expanding access to mental health care is vital, and to accomplish that goal we must ensure that our communities have enough providers to turn to. Funding is needed to invest in workforce development to train and retain mental health care professionals. Additionally, it’s crucial that we invest in community organizations that are already doing great work on the ground to provide personalized and tailored care to community members so that they can expand upon the work they’re doing and reach more people in need. These community organizations are especially vital to our most vulnerable and underserved community members.
 
“In our discussion, we also touched on the need to make mental health investments earlier on in people’s lives, such as funding early childhood education about mental and emotional health and funding preventative care, so that people have the foundational tools they need to lead happy lives.
 
“It was an honor to host Admiral Levine in the Ninth District and I commend her and the Biden-Harris administration for prioritizing the mental health crisis and making a concerted, national effort to tackle this issue. I also extend my gratitude to health care professionals in the Ninth District and across the country for their tireless work to help individuals and families work through the mental health challenges they are facing and live happier, healthier lives. I look forward to my continued work with the administration and mental health care leaders to develop effective solutions to this urgent crisis.”

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"The African Diaspora Cultural Anchor Village (ADCAV) is the first community-led project in south King County that provides a unique, culturally-specific place for African diaspora immigrants and refugees to live, learn, work, gather, and thrive. ACHD appreciates Congressman Adam Smith's support for this critical project and his tireless advocacy for communities throughout south King County.” - Hamdi Abdulle, Executive Director, African Community Housing & Development

"We're incredibly grateful for the bipartisan support for AiPACE. This is a major milestone in developing an adult day center and clinic appropriately located on Beacon Hill that will make aging-in-place possible for generations to come.” - Heidi Wong, Foundation Executive Director, ICHS 

“With the effort and commitment of Representative Adam Smith to secure $673,000 for the Commercial teaching kitchen, World Relief Western Washington is about to support refugees and immigrants to realize one of their many dreams in the community. Through this fund and the construction of the kitchen, many community members will have a common space to share the richness diverse cultural meals and provide opportunity to further refugee and immigrant businesses.” - Medard Ngueita, Executive Director, World Relief Seattle

"HealthPoint has been delighted to partner with former Seattle Seahawk Doug Baldwin to realize his vision for a community health and wellness center in the historically underserved Cascade/Benson neighborhood.  We are grateful for the support from Congressman Smith that will help make this vision a reality.  The new Family First Community Center will serve thousands of low-income families with quality health care services along with recreational and educational opportunities." - Lisa Yohalem, CEO, HealthPoint

"The innovative Health One program is a smart, agile, and forward-thinking approach to improve public health and public safety. Further scaling this program means better responding to Seattle residents and neighborhoods with services and care during non-emergency events like substance abuse or behavioral health issues. Thank you to Representative Smith and Seattle's Congressional delegation for their critical support for this important program." - City of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

“Africatown Community Land Trust is pleased that Keiro will be one of the projects awarded funding through this congressional process. ACLT will be able to provide 150 beds to homeless and unsheltered individuals as a result of these funds. We hope that many of the homeless residents that are housed at Keiro temporarily will become permanent residents when we open our doors. These residents will be supported by wraparound services. At the time of completion, Keiro will provide 285 units of permanently affordable rental housing that is much needed in Seattle -- a city that is suffering the dual crises of a lack of affordable housing and homelessness.” - Africatown Community Land Trust (Keiro Site)

“We are thrilled to have Rep. Smith’s support in creating a powerful, innovative educational experience that is equity-driven, student-centered, and maritime-focused. Maritime High School is dedicated to making a regional impact, and we are grateful for this investment in the transformation of our maritime workforce and industry.” - Tremain Holloway, Principal, Maritime High School

 

“We are deeply grateful to Representative Adam Smith for securing over $1 million in funding to support our new Maritime High School. This is a win not just for Highline Public Schools, but also for our region which relies so heavily on the maritime industry.” - Susan Enfield, Superintendent, Highline Public Schools

“Thank you to Representative Adam Smith for addressing Rainier Valley’s affordable housing needs in the federal budget. Our site is conveniently located just south of the Othello Light Rail Station and has great access to employment, shopping, recreation and amenities. This transit-oriented development (TOD) will help reduce car traffic, reduce household spending on transportation, reduce pollution and promote healthier lifestyles.” - Sharon Lee, Executive Director, LIHI

“We thank Representative Adam Smith for supporting our early learning center where immigrant and refugee families can receive bilingual and bicultural services that honors diverse language, cultural, and religious backgrounds.” - Mahnaz Eshetu, Executive Director, Refugee Women’s Alliance

“An international market at Wadajir will be a powerful incubator for small businesses in the Somali and immigrant communities of Tukwila, Washington. This federal investment will bring 15,000 square feet and 60 spaces to businesses at risk of displacement. We are grateful for Congressman Adam Smith’s leadership on this funding which furthers our work in partnership with Abu Bakr Islamic Center to support small business owners so vital to our community.” - Michelle Connor, President and CEO, Forterra

“These funds will go toward the development of a first of its kind Youth Achievement Center that will provide immediate services and intervention to the youth of South Seattle and King County. Many of these young people face many insurmountable challenges that can be alleviated if there is early intervention in their lives. YAC hopes to achieve that goal by creating over 90 units of permanently affordable housing, along with wrap around services to assist and provide a safety net for this vulnerable population, allowing them better short- and long-term outcomes. Our partners are excited as well, as this is the first step in the culmination of a long held dream to create this center by our coalition.” - Africatown Community Land Trust (Youth Achievement Center)

“The YAC will be a model for providing housing and opportunity for youth around our region. This $1,000,000 in earmarked federal allocation will help the YAC offer onsite wraparound services for youth in our communities. When we support youth leadership and center their experiences, our communities grow stronger. By creating safe and supportive spaces for young people to call home, we can ensure everyone in Seattle and King County can grow up to be healthy, thriving adults.” - King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay

 

“We started a program called the Youth Consortium. We started with about 25 young people from the community, all from different backgrounds, from the city; some were facing criminal charges, some were not, some were in school, some had dropped out of school. We did a canvassing of the streets and the young people came back and said, “We need a place for young people to live, to get services, somewhere to get help with education,” so we partnered with Creative Justice, Africatown Community Land Trust, and Councilmember Zahilay to develop the Youth Achievement Center.” - Dominique Davis, Founder and CEO, Community Passageways.

“We are in the midst of an uprising that is forcing us as a nation to face even more deeply the ways in which our systems and institutions very intentionally marginalize and disenfranchise black, indigenous and youth of color. Times such as these highlight the need for projects like the Youth Achievement Center: spaces birthed out of the genius and lived experiences of youth of color.” - Nikkita Oliver, Executive Director, Creative Justice.

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