Meet the Community Care Team
CCT is a unit of Vashon Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) engaged in volunteer counseling and behavioral and spiritual health. After a disaster, CCT teams may activate as part of the MRC’s response. During steadystate times, we maintain a list of behavioral and spiritual health resources for folks seeking help.
The CCT was developed in 2008 to work with VashonBePrepared and MRC to create additional capacity for crisis intake of mental health needs, assessments and triage, resource information, individual and family support, and disaster-related emotional assistance during a Federal and State declared emergency, in coordination with existing agency providers and VashonBePrepared. It became a unit of the MRC in 2016.
The Care of the Spirit Team is a sector of the Community Care Team (CCT). COST works with faith groups, poets, and others on this island to support the spiritual health of our community. The term “spiritual” is intended in as broad a sense as possible. It is not limited to and does not assume belief or religion. Spiritual care providers will respect and be guided by the perspectives, values, goals and experiences of the person seeking support. There will be no proselytizing or promoting of particular religious, spiritual, philosophical, moral, lifestyle, or other frameworks.
CCT Functions
* Develop coordinated systems of intakes, information and resource provision, mental health and support needs assessments, spiritual health and support needs assessments referrals to other agencies, and crisis counseling for those affected by public emergencies
* Collaborate with existing mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, faith community, bereavement, and social services to avoid duplication, increase surge capacity, and supplement local resources;
* Provide crisis services for mental and spiritual health needs related to public emergencies: assessments and triage, resource information, individual and family support, emotional /spiritual assistance, and counseling related to community crisis, in coordination with existing agency providers, the MRC, EOC and VBP;
* provide administrative support for CCT leadership in the development and maintenance of documents, e.g., volunteer lists, public information and website messaging, equipment needs, CCT minutes, and requirements;
Requirements: All mental health providers must be currently licensed by WA State and become a Registered Emergency Worker (REW) through WAServe. Other support personnel must sign up as a Temporary Emergency Worker (TEW).
The Pandemic
In response to COVID-19, the Community Care Team brought together island mental health professionals and faith/spiritual leadership to create community resources. We provided a free confidential help line, staffed by volunteers: trained and licensed mental health professionals and spiritual care providers.
Care Of the Spirit Team (COST)
The Care Of The Spirit team (COST) works with faith groups, poets, and others on this island to support the spiritual health of our community
CCT in action
Vaccination clinics at the schools had comfort dogs provided by CCT (photo Rick Wallace)