Volunteers of America Western Washington 4/14/2025

Exhibit A (Scope of Work) EXHIBIT A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (SCOPE OF WORK -- ATTACHED) SCOPE OF WORK I.Introduction The City of Everett has received federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to create alternative response systems supporting those in crisis. This program aims to utilize SAMHSA funds to assist the Volunteers of America (VOA) in bridging the gap between Snohomish County's 911 and 988 crisis systems. This initiative addresses 2021 House Bill 1477, which mandates the implementation of the national 988 system to enhance behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services. VOA is the single contract holder for 988 services in the North Sound area, which includes Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. The City of Everett is in Snohomish County and is only serviced by VOA for 988 services. As VOA is the single provider of services in Snohomish County, they are the provider that can provide bridge call diversion services between 911 and 988 services. 988 is the suicide and crisis hotline, which provides call center support for humans in crisis. 911 is a public service answering point. There is currently no bridge or connection between the two answering points. Trained public employees staff 911 and is municipally funded by the partner jurisdictions. VOA will employ qualified staff who are trained and experienced in crisis intervention. They will be responsible for supervising and implementing a pilot crisis call diversion project. Regular communication and meetings with the City of Everett are expected for planning and accountability purposes. Additionally, the supplier must maintain positive, professional relationships with the City, clients, and the wider community. II.Program Summary The Crisis Call Diversion Program seeks to bridge the 911 and 988 crisis systems. The VOA will explore the deployment of a crisis call clinician within existing dispatch systems, addressing the high volume of behavioral health calls that strain the 911 system. The program will also foster relationships between the 988 system and Sno911, the Snohomish County 911 system. Expertise in navigating these systems, including Washington’s Department of Health and the North Sound Behavioral Health Agency, will help address the continuum of crisis care needs. The ultimate goal is to create a 988 partnership with Snohomish County 911 that will ultimately benefit the emergency response systems for the City of Everett. If successful, a crisis counselor will work with Sno911 to identify calls better routed to the 988 call center and those best handled by Everett’s Crisis Responders, alleviating the heavy call burden on 911 dispatchers. III.Program Objectives •Establish a 988 call center partnership with Snohomish County 911. •Support Everett's Community Development Division in building strong, ongoing relationships with the 988 and 911 crisis systems.