Airway Heights Police Department hiring new full-time case manager to help people in crisis

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. -- The Airway Heights Police Department announced on Wednesday it received a grant to fund a new case manager position as part of its effort to connect people in crisis to helpful resources.

The Department received an almost $290,000 Arrest and Jail Alternatives grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs on April 1.

The grant will be used to hire a full-time case manager who will work with clients referred to them by the West Plains Crisis Response Team and other community partners.

The case manager will help clients experiencing behavioral health or substance abuse challenges connect with and navigate social services that offer long-term support.

The need for the full-time position was identified last year after the Airway Heights and Cheney Police Departments created the West Plains Crisis Response Team.

That team, staffed by officers from each department and mental health professionals, responded to nearly 1,500 crisis calls in the West Plains area in 2023.

The team found that the 1,500 calls involved 475 unique individuals who experienced recurring crises.

The new grant is meant to support the Crisis Response Team by reducing the number of people in crisis.

“I am excited for the West Plains to create a continuum of care to meet our community members exactly where they are. This new initiative will change how our systems work together and our region’s perceptions on criminalizing people with behavioral health needs or experiencing homelessness,” said Alise Mnati, Grants Administrator for Airway Heights.

For more information on the grant and the case-manager job description, visit cawh.org .

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