Four community-led advisory committees will deliver recommendations to regional elected officials on behavioral health, public safety and justice systems.
SPOKANE, Wash. — The Safe and Healthy Spokane Task Force announced Thursday it’s taking the next step to address the region’s behavioral health, public safety, emergency response and justice systems.
The 33-member task force launched in September 2025 to formulate a regional action plan on some of the main issues facing Spokane County.
“The work of the task force will not just be another study, another report, something that gathers dust on a shelf. This is a commitment to action,” CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership Emilie Cameron said at the time.
Now it appears the action portion of this initiative is beginning.
The task force has launched four advisory committees to “help shape a clear, prioritized set of recommendations for city and county leaders,” the group said in a press release.
The members of these committees have system knowledge, lived experience, and insight and data about how to tackle the complex and interconnected challenges across multiple systems in public safety, justice, and behavioral health.
“This next phase is about moving from analysis to action,” said Alisha Benson, CEO, Greater Spokane Inc. “The Task Force and Advisory Committee are working together to build broad-based agreement on how to address challenges our community has been struggling with for too long.”
Committee recommendations and outcomes will be shared publicly as the work progresses, and community members are encouraged to stay engaged through meetings, posted materials and direct connection with committee members, Safe and Healthy Spokane said.
The advisory committees and members are:
Prevention and crisis response: This committee focuses on strategies that reduce the need for emergency or justice-system involvement by strengthening prevention, crisis response and connections to care, particularly at the earliest points of contact. Co-chairs: Angel Tomeo Sam (Yoyot Sp’q’n’i), Jan Downing (Frontier Behavioral Health) and Justin Johnson (Spokane County) Custody strategies and courts: This committee examines opportunities to strengthen diversion, treatment access and court-related processes, while also considering improvements to conditions within existing custody facilities. The focus includes supporting safe, humane environments for incarcerated individuals and people working in correctional facilities. Co-chairs: Dr. Melissa Mace (NAACP Spokane), Judge Tony Hazel (Spokane County Superior Court) and Mike Sparber (Spokane County) Reentry, discharge and community corrections: This committee focuses on improving coordination and continuity of care for people leaving incarceration or hospitalization, including access to housing, treatment and community-based supports that reduce recidivism and improve stability. Co-chairs: Erik Lamb (City of Spokane Valley), Maggie Yates (City of Spokane) and Matt Albright (Providence)Facilities, infrastructure and system coordination: This committee addresses cross-cutting needs such as facilities, workforce capacity, data sharing and coordination across systems. The work includes examining jail and diversion facilities, along with treatment and stabilization settings, to better understand current and future capacity needs and ensure these facilities function as part of a coordinated continuum of care. Co-chairs: Chud Wendle (Hutton Settlement), John Browne (CHAS) and Virla Spencer (The Way to Justice)
“Community engagement remains a key part of the task force’s work. Interested individuals may serve on an advisory committee, share feedback or ideas directly with task force or advisory committee members, or invite a task force representative to meet with their organization to share updates and listen to community input,” the task force said.
You can check out how to get involved here.