HHS secretary visits Seattle area during nationwide mental health tour
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Just two weeks after President Joe Biden’s visit, leaders from the White House are back in the Seattle area Friday.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra is making three stops in the region.
The visit is part of Becerra’s nationwide mental health tour. He and other Health and Human Services leaders are traveling across the country to learn and work with local leaders on mental health challenges.
Sen. Patty Murray, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Congressman Adam Smith and Congressman Rick Larsen will joining Becerra on some of his stops.
The first stop was at Seattle’s Crisis Connections, which was one of the first crisis hotlines in the country. Becerra toured the facility and then participated in a roundtable discussion about support for adults and teens in crisis.
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Next, Becerra will tour the emergency department at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett to see the hospital’s substance use treatment and recovery services and meet with front-line nurses, emergency responders, public health officials and members of the community. He will also discuss the Health and Human Services’ overdose prevention strategy.
His final stop will be Renton High School, where he’ll tour the school’s health clinic and promote the importance of students getting annual vaccinations to keep schools open and safe.
Becerra was in Portland Thursday where he met with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. Much of their time together was focused on children’s mental health. Brown said her state is extending summer learning programs.
“The goal of the summer learning program is to provide academic support but also academic enrichment — 36 art, music, P.E. — all of these support services are incredibly important for children’s growth and mental health,” said Brown.
