Members of South County Fire & Rescue attend a behavioral health training, led by Associate Professor Jennifer Stuber and BHCore staff.
April 14, 2026
Behavioral Health Crisis Outreach Response and Education (BHCore), a School of Social Work research center founded by Associate Professor Jennifer Stuber, is equipping firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) professionals and clinicians across Washington state with vital behavioral health skills. BHCore training supports innovative, alternative response models that connect people in mental health and substance use crises with the right care, and strengthens how first responders are recruited, trained and supported across Washington.
On March 19, 2026, South County Fire & Rescue recognized Stuber with its Community Service Award, which honors a community member who has made an outstanding contribution to fire and life safety through education, public relations and public service.
Over the past year, BHCore has partnered with the Vancouver Police Department, South County Fire & Rescue and Everett Police Department to deliver specialized training that strengthens emergency response to mental health and substance use crises; BHCore also has upcoming trainings scheduled with the Seattle Fire Department and Spokane Police Department.
In December 2025, Stuber and the BHCore team led an all-day behavioral health training with South County Fire in the School of Social Work Research Commons. The sessions focused on practical, evidence‑based strategies to help first responders safely and effectively engage individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in the field.
BHCore supports alternative crisis response models that prioritize connection to appropriate care for people experiencing mental health and substance use emergencies, offering several training programs tailored to different professional roles:
- COAST: An eight‑hour foundational behavioral health training for fire and EMS professionals, offered quarterly in four locations across Washington State.
- SHIELD: An eight‑hour training designed for clinicians, providing critical knowledge and practical tools to ethically and effectively support first responders.
- POISE: A 30‑hour certificate program featuring an innovative, skills‑building curriculum for frontline responders working on collaborative emergency, crisis response, and follow‑up teams.
As communities seek more effective and humane approaches to crisis response, BHCore stands at the forefront of statewide innovation.
Visit the BHCore website to learn more about their training opportunities, workforce development and legislative updates.