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| Spokane Fire - C.A.R.E.S. |
Wednesday February 22 - 9:46 PM |
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What is the CARES Team? The CARESTeam is a brokering social service agency within the Spokane Fire Department that addresses the needs of citizens utilizing fire department services. CARES was founded in 2008 by the Spokane Fire Department and Eastern Washington University. The team is composed of Eastern Washington University social work Interns as well as two supervisors; a MSW and a Community Services Director. Team members are knowledgeable about local community agencies, diversity issues, and vicarious trauma. Team members are also trained in crisis intervention.
What Does the CARES Team Do? CARES works in collaboration with the Spokane Fire Department to assist vulnerable populations who face barriers in identifying and utilizing appropriate community resources. The CARES Team visits individuals in their home, works with them to identify their needs, advocates with them and connects them to appropriate resources.
CARES' Responsibilitis Include:
In-home visits
Client assessments
Contacting and brokering with other Spokane agencies
Advocating, brokering and empowering on behalf of the client
Program development
Internal and external marketing
Particapate in local coalitions
Grant writing
Why CARES? CARES was implemented in order to strengthen community relationships, decrease 9-1-1 over-users or abusers, decrease ‘on-scene’ time for engine companies for ‘social service’ calls, decrease level of frustration with front line crews, provide an expanded scope of care and a higher level of service to customers of the Spokane Fire Department. Each time an EMS incident is initiated, a minimum of 1 fire engine with 3-4 firefighters and 1 ambulance, with 2-3 Paramedics arrive on scene. This call costs the City of Spokane approximately $750 per incident. CARES impacts the Spokane Fire Department in a positive and professional manner while assisting customers and community services.
Contact a CARES Team member at:
SFDCARES@spokanefire.org
509-625-7042
509-625-7166
Donations payable to:
Spokane Fire Department Foundation
44 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
SFD Foundation Website
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