In Spokane County:
Each of these data points is on an upward trend and significantly higher than the average for Washington State. Thank you to our members The Women Helping Women Fund and Spokane Regional Health District for this important research from their “Changing Our Forecast: State of Women & Children in Spokane County” report.
Spokane County increased HS graduation rates from below 60% to over 80% in 5 years! As a result we’re stoked about our national Culture of Health Award from RWJF
Once completed, jump up and down in excitement, that you have contributed to a cause that helps the entire community of Spokane.
Priority Spokane is an endeavor to create a vibrant future for Spokane County by implementing community-defined goals. It is through collaborative and focused efforts that Spokane County will be a flourishing community for all who live and work here.
Our Commitment to Equity: Earnest dialogue and active listening are keys to challenging our assumptions and understanding those who are different from us. Priority Spokane commits to listening first, meeting with groups where they’re at, and working diligently to be inclusive, culturally informed, and equitable in our work. We envision a thriving Spokane County where all residents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. Where all residents will have equitable opportunities and resources, leading to optimal health and well-being.
Priority Spokane is a unique collaboration of organizations working to identify priorities for Spokane County and then collaborating to address them. Our goal is to foster measurable improvements in key areas of community vitality. By focusing efforts on a few key priorities, Priority Spokane aims to create a thriving community for all who live and work here. We conduct a data-driven community assessment, identify and research root causes, develop regional evidence-based plans, convene community leaders and stakeholders, and lead a collaborative effort to achieve measurable results.
Priority Spokane has finished its 2022-2023 Community Needs Assessment and identified 4 top priorities for Spokane County. Priority Spokane is currently researching each of the top 4 priorities to assess:
Priority Spokane’s board will vote to select which priority we focus on next in early 2024.
What we did to reduce trauma/address violence in Spokane County:
We've found a 3-5 year system that works. Here's an infographic that shows how and where we are in determining and achieving our goals.
Identify the Problem
We conducted a data-driven community assessment and the community voted on these top 3 priorities for Spokane County: 1. Reduce the impacts of family trauma and violence. 2. Increase access and services for residents with co-occuring substance abuse and mental health issues. & 3. Improve the availability of affordable housing.
Research & Understand
Based on the 3 priorities identified, we surveyed and met with stakeholders and organizations working in these sectors. We held monthly community presentations to learn and gather information. We reviewed research and data before our steering committee ultimately voted on our next priority: reducing the impacts of family trauma and violence. We recognized this as a root cause of many of the other problems we face including homelessness. Here’s what this prioritization process looked like for this priority.
Creating the Plan
Priority Spokane partnered with the Spokane Regional Health District to convene community stakeholders for a regional mapping process focused on the priority of reducing family trauma and violence as well as behavioral health. The community mapping will help identify causal loops, gaps, resources, and root causes that will aid in our creation of a regional plan to prevent Spokane County families from experiencing trauma & violence.
TBD- Our plans typically include: key leverage points, address root causes, fill existing gaps, utilize county-wide collaboration, can be accomplished in 3-5 years, and are measurable.
TBD- Our work is always evaluated and measured so we can learn & demonstrate what works & what doesn’t.
TBD- After evaluating the results, we look for areas of improvement.
“Spokane County has the highest domestic violence rates in Washington state as well as substantially higher child abuse and youth suicide and self harm rates. In fact Spokane County saw over a 400% increase in youth suicide and self harm over just 10 years. This is not what we want for Spokane’s kids. This is not what we want to be known for. These problems are at the root of our community’s challenges with homelessness, addiction, and mental health. We’re thankful for the work of the Domestic Violence Coalition, the Women Helping Women Fund’s ground-breaking report on women and children, and the work of our many partners. We’ll only get ahead of this through collaboration and coordination, and that’s something Spokane has proven time and time again it does well. Join us in assuring Spokane County is a safe and healthy community for all who live and work here.”
-Ryan Oelrich, Executive Director
Research is extremely important when finding a solution to any conflict or problem, and this priority is no different.
– Melanie Rose, Regional Business Manager
– Mayor Lisa Brown
-Alternate: Dawn Kinder, Director of CHHS
-Council Member Paul Dillon
– Katy Sheehan, Executive Director
Scholarship Sponsor!
– Angela Matson, Marketing Strategist
-Leslie Bytnar, Charitable & Governmental Affairs Manager (Secretary/Treasurer)
Scholarship Sponsor!
– Jennifer Vigil, Equity & Outreach Program Manager
– Melanie Whalen, VP of Analytics and Insights
– Lu Hill, Community Engagement & Strategy Director
– Dr. Yolanda Gallardo, Dean School of Education
– Stacia Rasmussen, Health & Life Sciences Business Development Manager
– Dr. Scott Ferguson, Associate Director of Grants (Chair)
– John Kleiderer, Chief Mission Integration Officer
– Christina Kamkosi, Manager Community Health Investment Programs
-Commissioner Amber Waldref
-Commissioner Chris Jordan
– Danielle Wrenn, Program Manager Data Center
– Mark Tucker, Interim CEO
– Andrew Perera, Director of Student Equity, Leadership, and Community HUB
– Geneva Johns, Operations Director
-John Hindman, CEO
Drew Comito, Associate Director (Vice Chair)
-Brady Cass, President
-Ann Smith, President/Sustainer
-Julie Wukelic, CEO
-Jamie McIntyre, Community Risk Reduction Manager
-Dr. Vernon Loke, Associate Dean
Priority Spokane charter allows for up to 25 Steering Committee Member with up to two voting members being from the same organization. Organizations pay an annual membership fee of $2,500 per voting member which funds the administrative costs of the organization. Members participate in the community assessment process and receive: 1 vote per membership, input in selecting priorities for Spokane County, recognition as a member in all publications and press releases, recognition as a member on our website with a link to your organization, annual recognition via social media, public recognition at all Priority Spokane events and an invitation to several annual private events.
Ryan Oelrich MA, MBA Executive Director
Ryan became Priority Spokane’s Executive Director in 2015. A Gonzaga University Graduate, he’s founded and directed several nonprofit organizations and businesses. He’s a RWJF Culture of Health Fellow and received the Peirone prize for service in 2016. He’s received Congressional recognition for his work on poverty issues and is an advocate for increased coordination and collaboration to achieve results which was the subject of one of his TED talks.
Sponsor a community organization who otherwise could not afford membership at a reduced rate of $2,250 per year. Community Sponsors help us assure that diverse voices are equitably included at the table. Please contact us for additional details.
Making measurable change in our community requires community-wide action through collaboration and through individual action, such as volunteering and contributing resources. Priority Spokane is committed to collaboration not competition and as a result has chosen not to become a 501c3. Priority Spokane is instead fiscally sponsored by the Innovia Foundation so all contributions are tax deductible. Not being a 501c3 assures that our organization has to partner and collaborate with other community organizations to fundraise and conduct our work, and is one of the things that makes us and our process unique. We appreciate your support and investment in our work.
If you’d like to donate, visit the Innovia Foundation website:
https://innovia.org/give-now/
Select the Priority Spokane Fund and note ‘Priority Spokane’ in your donation.
The Priority Spokane Fund has been established within the Innovia Foundation (our fiscal sponsor). To contribute, click on the “donate” button to your left, or copy and paste the link. Select Priority Spokane Fund from the drop-down list in step 1. The Steering Committee will make decisions on the award of funds in the form of grants to non-profits and agencies working on Priority Spokane issues.
Once completed, jump up and down in excitement that you have contributed to a cause that helps the entire community of Spokane. Also, close your eyes and imagine all of the high fives and thank you’s that we’re sending your way.
We'd love to hear from you regarding any general questions, suggestions, or comments.
We're a busy group that is constantly working to reach our goals, but will get back to you at our earliest convenience.