Health & COVID-19 Resources

Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/node/62
Download Application in 12 languages
Emergency Programs Offered include: Medical Programs, Emergency Food Assistance, Emergency Cash Assistance

https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/

Influenza (flu) vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the flu viruses that are used to make vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research suggests will be most common during the upcoming season.

Find and schedule a flu vaccine near you.

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3208/Influenza-Flu

The flu is more than just a bad cold. Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious and sometimes severe disease caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. Influenza can cause anything from mild symptoms to severe illness that can result in hospitalization or death.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. The flu vaccine protects you and the people around you too. Get the vaccine at your health care provider’s office, or search for a flu vaccine provider near you.

You can also stop the spread of the flu by washing your hands often and well, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and staying home when you’re sick.

Some people are at greater risk for complications from the flu:

• People 65 and older.
• Kids under 5, and especially kids under 2.
• Pregnant women.
• People with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
• American Indian and Alaska Native people.

https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/flu/flu-activity

The flu is a disease that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause moderate to severe illness, including death. Find local information about:

• Flu Activity
• Flu Basics
• About Flu Vaccine
• Where to Find Flu Vaccine
• Flu Vaccine Recommendations
• Vaccine Safety
• Prevention and Treatment of Flu
• Antibiotics

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4251/Narcan-Leave-Behind-Program

Whatcom County Emergency Medical Services is proud to continue the Narcan Leave Behind Program. This program provides Narcan Kits to those At-Risk individuals, an involved bystander, or family that are At-Risk of opioid related overdose. Narcan is a medication that can save lives by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose.

Narcan Kits: The kits can be requested by emailing Steven Cohen at scohen@co.whatcom.wa.us.

Training: Whatcom County EMS is available to train individuals, organizations or provide training resources. Contact Steven Cohen, EMS Training Specialist, at 360-820-6157 or scohen@co.whatcom.wa.us.

Legal: If you are worried about being sued or arrested in relation to using Narcan, Washington State has laws to protect you.

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3303/Needles-Sharps-Disposal

360-778-6000

Used needles, syringes, or other sharps pose a danger because they can potentially spread diseases like hepatitis or HIV.

We provide needle clean-up kits for businesses or community groups who want to clean up and safely dispose of used needles found on private or public property.

You can get rid of used sharps from personal, household use in your regular garbage if they are properly packaged. Learn how to package them for safe disposal.

https://special.usps.com/testkits

As of September 25, 2023, residential households in the U.S. can order one set of #4 free at-home tests from USPS.com again. Here’s what you need to know about your order:

Limit of one order per residential address
One order includes #4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests (COVIDTests.gov has more details about at-home tests, including extended shelf life and updated expiration dates)

https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint

(360) 753-6200

1125 Washington St SE
PO Box 40100
Olympia, WA 98504

The Washington State Office of the Attorney General offers an informal complaint resolution service to Washington state residents, and to consumers with complaints about businesses located in Washington state. Types of complaints include Robocall, Reproductive Rights, Pregnancy Accommodations, Manufactured Housing, Medicaid Fraud, COVID-19, and General Consumer Complaints.

https://whatcomoverdoseprevention.org/

Whatcom County residents can now view local overdose data, request Naloxone, or find resources related to opioids in one central location for local information.

The website has an online form for people or organizations to request free Naloxone (an opioid overdose-reversing drug), as well as a list of other resources for free mail-order Naloxone and how to purchase the drug at a pharmacy.

The site’s data dashboard includes information on emergency department overdose visits, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls for suspected overdoses, and overdose deaths, with data from Whatcom County EMS, Medical Examiner’s Office, and Health and Community Services.

This website will be updated regularly with additional information on community programs, and resources for community members and service providers.

https://whatcomaa.org/

Mailing Address: District 11 P.O. Box 2268 Bellingham, WA 98225

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Find a local group near you. 24/7 Hotline (360) 734-1688.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.

https://nooksacktribe.org/departments/youth-family-services/

(360) 306-5090

Mailing:
Nooksack Family Services
5061 Deming Road, PO Box 157
Deming, WA 98244

The Nooksack Youth and Family Services Department provides an array of advocacy and case management services to Nooksack children and families involving child welfare, domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse.

The Youth and Family Services Department manages the following programs and services for the Nooksack community:
Indian Child Welfare Program and Independent Living
Extended Foster Care
Tl’ils Ta’á’altha
Men and Boys Outreach and Advocacy Program
Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program
Child Protection Team

https://www.nwrcwa.org/non-emergency-medical-transportation

(360) 738-4554

600 Lakeway Drive
Bellingham, WA 98225

Need a Ride? Call us at (360) 738-4554
Health Care Authority uses NWRC to provide non-emergency transportation to Medicaid eligible recipients. Please give at least two full business days’ notice for requests.

Find additional information about:
Bus passes in Whatcom and Skagit counties
Gas vouchers and reimbursement forms
Forms for doctor offices
After-hours transportation assistance

Website: https://sayyescovidhometest.org/

The Washington State Department of Health is offering free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits to residents of eligible communities. Availability changes, so keep checking back. You may also be eligible to order more than once and perhaps even on a monthly basis. Details will be available on your order confirmation page.

https://www.voaww.org/wa-ibh

1-866-491-1683

Serving Native American & Alaska Native Communities throughout the state of Washington to access culturally appropriate behavioral health resources.

How We Help…
Coordinate care for individuals experiencing behavioral health concerns prior to a crisis

Help with accessing treatment beds (voluntary or involuntary)

Coordinate care after a person has been discharged from a facility (emergency room, outpatient treatment, psychiatric hospital, and more)

Provide culturally appropriate resources and assist with overcoming barriers

Follow up with the person over the next two weeks

Collect individual feedback on cultural sensitivity of facilities and programs

Provide behavioral health resources

Support navigation of Joel’s Law: when a designated crisis responder has decided a family member does not meet the criteria to be in involuntary treatment, but the family feels their loved one would benefit from it.

https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/injury-and-violence-prevention/suicide-prevention/988-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline

Call, text, or chat 988 to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365. The ten-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is still active along with 988.

Contact 988 if you are having:

Thoughts of suicide
Mental health crises
Substance use concerns
Any other kind of emotional distress
You can also contact 988 if you are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Services are available in Spanish, along with interpretation services in over 250 languages. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and TTY users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255.

If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, dial 988 and press 1 to be connected to the Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line serves Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.

The Native and Strong Lifeline is the first program of its kind in the nation dedicated to serving American Indian and Alaska Native people. Operated by Volunteers of America Western Washington, this line is available for people who call 988 and choose option 4. It is specifically for Washington’s American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Calls are answered by Native crisis counselors who are tribal members and descendants closely tied to their communities. Native and Strong Lifeline counselors are fully trained in crisis intervention and support, with special emphasis on cultural and traditional practices related to healing.

http://phra.org/mail-order-naloxone

https://firesmoke.ca/

This interactive map gives views of current fires in the US and Canada, shows the location and direction of the smoke from those fires, and provides a 48hour visual forecast.

https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/map

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3308/Wildfire-Smoke

Smoke from fires can be dangerous for everyone. Fortunately, there are steps you can take both before and during smoky days to protect your health.

• Know where to get information about the latest air quality conditions. Follow Northwest Clean Air Agency and the Washington State Smoke Blog for up-to-date information.

https://nwcleanairwa.gov/air-quality-center/

Get updates and information about the air quality in northwest Washington. Our agency operates real-time ambient air quality monitors in seven locations in our jurisdiction. Most of these air quality monitors keep track of air pollution in populated areas. Others – like the monitor near Lynden – measure regional background air quality.

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3301/Veterans-Program

360-778-6050

If you’re a Whatcom County veteran, we can help you or your family access local, state, and federal benefits and services. You can receive assistance through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for: Health care Compensation and Pension Housing and Home Loans Employment Education Childcare

https://med-project.org/

What should you do with your expired or unwanted medicine? Medicines help treat diseases, manage chronic conditions, and improve health and well-being for millions of Americans. It is important that patients take their medicines as prescribed by their health care provider. However, if you have expired or unwanted medicines, proper disposal is important and easy.

Return kiosks have been installed at convenient drop-off locations throughout Whatcom County. To find your closest drop-off location, visit https://med-project.org/locations/washington/#locations

If you can’t get to a drop-off location, you can pick up a free mailer to return your medications. Mailers are available at most libraries in Whatcom County or by requesting one from MED-Project.

https://nami.org/Home

NAMI Washington
1107 NE 45th St Ste 330
Seattle, WA 98105-4697

800-950-6264

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

800-584-3578

To access this service, call the VOA Crisis Response Services (the Care Crisis Line) at 1-800-584-3578 24/7 – 365 days-a-year to speak with a mental health professional who will assess the situation, make appropriate referrals, and/or dispatch the MCOT community based outreach team.

The Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) is a community-based outreach team with the ability to respond to and provide crisis services in the community (e.g., homes, schools, shelters). The Team serves adults, adolescents, and children who are experiencing a behavioral health (mental health and/or substance use) crisis regardless of their funding source. MCOT offers short term crisis intervention and prevention services utilizing strength-based, solution-focused, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented interventions.

What services do we offer?
Urgent community response, usually within 2 hours
Care planning services for up to 2 weeks
Community Outreach
Involuntary Treatment Act Services

2026 Division Street
Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: 360-812-7220

Services:
Safe withdrawal from alcohol and drugs
Counseling
Motivational programming
Referrals to mental health services
Assessments and referrals to substance use disorder treatment, once admitted

1-800-584-3578
www.imhurting.org

Whether you had a bad day, or just need a non-judgmental ear to listen, we are here for you, no matter what you want to talk about. Our highly-skilled and compassionate staff are here to help.

If you are in a state of distress, reach out today. Our crisis services are available 24/7 by phone and via chat. Call 1-800-584-3578 or visit www.imhurting.org. Our support is free, confidential, and always available.

1-800-584-3578
2026 Division Street, Bellingham, WA 98226

The Whatcom County Triage Center (WCTC) provides services to adults who are experiencing a mental health crisis, or who are in need of withdrawal management services, and helps them restore and stabilize their health.

The stabilization facility offers an alternative to hospitalization or arrest. It is also a clear point of access to mental health and substance use services in Whatcom County.

To access this service, call the VOA Care Crisis Response Services ‘the Care Crisis Line” at 1-800-584-3578, 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year to speak with a licensed mental health professional who will assess the situation and make appropriate referrals.

North Sound ACH Care Coordination Referral Form: https://northsoundach.org/referral/
Address: 1204 Railroad Ave., Suite 200 Bellingham WA 98225
Phone: (360) 543-8858
E-mail: info@NorthSoundACH.org

North Sound ACH currently works with clinical and community organizations across five counties – Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom. We partner across the state with other ACH regions, working to make Washington a place working to make the state a welcoming place for all.

Care Coordination Agencies:

• Compass Health
• San Juan County Health and Community Services
• SeaMar Community Health Centers

Call, email, or use submission form to indicate areas of need and North Sound ACH staff will connect you to the appropriate resource(s). Examples of resources include:
1. Distributing food kits, care kits
2. Providing hotel vouchers
3. Connecting to navigators in multiple languages throughout the North Sound

Website: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
CDC tool to know your COVID-19 Community Level.

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3329/Novel-Coronavirus-COVID-19
Provides news and information on Covid-19 Data, Vaccines, Testing, Exposure, and Health Care Providers.

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3388/COVID-19-Testing
Offers information and scheduling options for individuals with exposure/symptoms or in need or testing for travel.

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3530/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information
Regularly updated list of pop-up vaccine clinics for all ages along with a list of regular providers of COVID vaccines.

Website: https://www.vaccines.gov/search/

Everyone 5 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot.

Vaccines.gov helps you find clinics, pharmacies, and other locations that offer COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Information is available about which vaccine or booster you should get.

Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, follow these steps to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community. This resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention covers current quarantine guidelines, symptom monitoring, how to keep others safe, and when to seek emergency medical attention.

Website: https://www.testdirectly.com/patient/home

Find and schedule community COVID testing near you. Testing costs are covered for individuals with symptoms or exposure to confirmed cases. Self-pay is available for Canadians and others with insurance outside the US at $180, with a 25% discount for payment at the time of service. Payment may be made with a credit card or debit card.

Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html

Mandatory form for returning to or visiting Canada. Also has information on travel restrictions and any other requirements for crossing the border.

You must use ArriveCAN to provide mandatory travel information before and after your entry into Canada. It only takes minutes to help keep each other safe.

Who needs to use ArriveCAN

All travellers, with limited exceptions, whether entering Canada by air, land, rail or marine vessel, must use ArriveCAN unless you’re exempt from this requirement due to an accessibility need.

You’ll need to submit your information within 72 hours before your arrival to Canada.

Available for iOS, Android and web.
The mobile app is free and is available in English, French and Spanish (displayed in the language of your device).