Auburn is set to enhance its health care landscape with the launch of International Community Health Services (ICHS) at SOUND Behavioral Health’s Auburn clinic, aimed at serving 1,400 low-income residents in the area.
Beginning June 16, this initiative will offer patients a comprehensive range of services, including primary care, behavioral health care, specialty referrals, and access to health resources, all consolidated within a single location at 4238 Auburn Way N.
The integration of primary care and behavioral health services represents a significant step towards delivering holistic, patient-centered care. By co-locating these services, ICHS at SOUND Auburn aims to improve overall health outcomes through enhanced coordination, while also reducing the stigma often associated with seeking mental health support.
Kelli Nomura, CEO of ICHS, emphasized the importance of this new clinic for low-income individuals, stating, “ICHS at SOUND Auburn provides much needed health resources to low income people. By partnering with SOUND Behavioral Health, we are not only expanding access to medical care, we are also building a bridge to behavioral health services, right here in Auburn. Together, we are ensuring more families can find trusted, culturally responsive care close to home.”
As the population in South King County has grown, many patients have faced lengthy commutes to Seattle to access affordable and culturally appropriate care in their native languages. This collaboration between ICHS and SOUND Behavioral Health is designed to address this issue directly by bringing vital health services to the community.
Katrina Egner, President and CEO of SOUND Behavioral Health, expressed a shared commitment to accessibility, stating, “Too many individuals and families in King County still face barriers when trying to access behavioral health and medical care. By working together with ICHS, we’re helping fulfill our goal of ensuring that more people can find compassionate, lasting care in a convenient way.”
The partnership comes at a crucial time as South King County grapples with escalating behavioral health needs, driven by issues such as the fentanyl epidemic, increasing rates of depression and anxiety, and difficulties accessing integrated care. Furthermore, it is common for individuals to experience co-occurring mental health conditions and chronic illnesses, making the availability of both services at a single location imperative.
According to the 2022 ICHS Community Needs Assessment, traditionally marginalized and low-income community members in South King County report significantly higher levels of poor health compared to their wealthier counterparts in other parts of King County. The 2024 King County Community Health Needs Assessment highlighted that life expectancy in South King County is notably low, at just 79.1 years.
ICHS at SOUND Auburn will primarily focus on providing in-person services, including immunizations, mental health counseling, well-child services, and voluntary family planning. In a further bid to enhance accessibility, the ICHS Mobile Dental Clinic will make periodic visits to the Auburn site, expanding its schedule based on community needs. Additionally, patients can benefit from free transportation to and from the clinic, which significantly reduces barriers to accessing care.
ICHS has been a part of the community for over 50 years, delivering culturally competent primary health and wellness services to nearly 33,000 patients each year across the Puget Sound area. With multiple clinics and satellite sites throughout King County, ICHS ensures that patients can access a full suite of health services, complemented by language access, health education, and assistance in finding and enrolling in health insurance.
Offering free interpretation services in over 70 languages and dialects, ICHS stands out as a leading Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), providing comprehensive health services on a sliding scale, regardless of patients’ ability to pay.
On the other hand, SOUND Behavioral Health has been a prominent behavioral health services provider for nearly 60 years. It is dedicated to offering support to some of the most vulnerable populations in the region by delivering community mental health and substance use disorder treatment services.
With a mission focused on improving lives, SOUND Behavioral Health strives to ensure equitable, recovery-focused behavioral health services are accessible to everyone in the community. With 16 locations across King County and services delivered in various settings, SOUND is projected to assist over 15,000 children, youth, and adults in 2025, addressing challenges related to poverty, disability, abuse, addiction, mental illness, and homelessness.
Through the collaboration of ICHS and SOUND Behavioral Health, the Auburn clinic stands as a beacon of hope and resource accessibility, aimed at better serving the health needs of a diverse community.
image source from：nwasianweekly
