Seattle Indian Health Board needs your help to ensure we are able to open the Thunderbird Treatment Center on Vashon Island in 2025. There is a group of people trying to stop us from opening even though it would help us directly address the fentanyl and opioid crisis and increase the number of inpatient treatment beds in King County by 62%.
Native people are dying from overdoses at the highest rates in Washington and King County, which is why we need your help today.
We are asking community members to submit letters to King County, expressing the urgent need to open the Thunderbird Treatment Center in 2025.
Below are instructions for you to copy and paste a letter into an email and send to King County officials.
Instructions:
- Copy and paste the letter below into an email.
- Add your name at the bottom of the letter in the highlighted section.
- Address the email to King County Councilmember Theresa Mosqueda: teresa.mosqueda@kingcounty.gov
- Copy the emails at the bottom of this page and paste into the cc section of your email.
- Add subject line: Support the opening of Thunderbird Treatment Center
- Send email
[copy and paste this letter into an email]
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 in 2025 as a critical solution to the ongoing opioid crisis.
Recently released CDC data shows a decrease in overdose deaths across the country except in three states, including Washington, which saw a 25% increase in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023. While this crisis impacts everyone, Native people are dying from opioid overdoses at the highest rates throughout Washington and in King County.
This is unacceptable. Our people need access to culturally attuned, inpatient treatment and recovery services as soon as possible.
Despite various efforts to address the crisis, there remains a significant gap in access to comprehensive treatment services for those struggling with substance use disorder. Here are some of the benefits Thunderbird Treatment Center would bring to King County.
- Capacity Increase: Thunderbird will increase the number of inpatient beds in King County by 62%, from 148 to 240 beds.
- Comprehensive Services: Thunderbird will provide access to behavioral health, drug treatment, and Traditional Indian Medicine, 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 an inpatient treatment program.
- Focused Mission: Seattle Indian Health Board specializes in the health and well-being of underserved communities, who are disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis.
Thunderbird Treatment Center will not only save lives but also restore hope and dignity to those affected by addiction. It is a vital step toward building a healthier, safer, and more resilient community.
I urge you and your fellow council members to support this initiative and 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]
[copy and paste these emails into cc section of your email]
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
anita.whitfield@kingcounty.gov
gary.kurihara@kingcounty.gov
megan.pedersen@kingcounty.gov
claudia.kauffman@leg.wa.gov
emily.randall@leg.wa.gov
chris.stearns@leg.wa.gov
nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov