The Poulsbo City Council approved a new full-time position — Recovery Resource Center manager, along with two new funding sources for the RRC with accompanying budget amendments at its Feb. 21 meeting.
The RRC manager’s salary from March 1 to December 31 will be $100,984, city documents read.
Housing Health and Human Services was recently awarded a $168,000 grant from Kitsap County Department of Human Services to augment RRC staffing. The funding will give H3 the ability to add a full-time RRC manager to city staff along with a 35-hour-a-week peer support specialist.
The city receives funds each year as part of a statewide opioid settlement agreement. Council approved using $15,523 of settlement funds to offset the cost of substance use disorder services at the RRC.
The RRC is intended to serve individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring health conditions in the North Kitsap area, per documents. The center, during its initial phase, is open on Mondays and Thursdays for walk-ins from 10 am to 4 pm and for appointments on other days of the week. Hours may expand later in the year.
Visitors to the RRC may access a variety of services including peer support, substance use disorder services, mental health counseling, and connection to telehealth providers. The aim of the center is to promote recovery by creating a safe, supportive, and healing environment for those affected by drug and alcohol use—and promote long-term transformation through relationships and evidence-based practices.
“The RRC manager is central to the day-to-day operations of the center. This individual is the public representative of the RRC and responsible for ensuring welcoming and effective operations,” the job description reads. “The manager will work closely with individuals who visit the RRC, providers working at the RRC, court personnel, prosecutors, first responders and co-responders who refer people to the RRC, and outside service providers that we work with to promote care coordination.”
Additionally, the manager will be responsible for collecting data about RRC participants and making sure that records are well maintained, and reporting goals are met. The manager will also advocate for the RRC and identify funding opportunities at the county and state level to sustain and expand operations. The position is funded through December and has the possibility of extending further.
Other news
Poulsbo’s Fish Park is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. An inaugural Earth Day event will be held Saturday, April 20, from 10 am to 2 pm to celebrate the connection that the park provides between visitors and the natural world, recognize individuals and groups who help develop and maintain the park and to inspire our community to become involved, documents state.
Approximately 1,200 hours of volunteer labor were donated to Fish Park in 2023, a value of $45,444.
Informational booths at the event will include: Suquamish Museum, Poulsbo Historical Society, Kitsap Audubon Society, Poulsbo Tree Board and more. Guest speakers will include: county commissioner Christine Rolfes, Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson, Fish Park Steering Committee Chairperson Tom Nordlie, retired Suquamish Tribe fisheries biologist Paul Dorn and more.
The final hour of the event will provide a one-hour volunteer service opportunity with invasive species education – featuring the new Parks and Rec trailer.
There was also an update on the Play for All project at Raab Park. Potential additives include sound and music equipment, sensory garden and a nature play area with a fairy house.
The Project timeline is as follows: Feb-March (grading and building permits; bid package preparation); April-May (release to bid early April, open bids end of April, present to council, award bid end of May); June-August (mobilize for construction, break ground, construction observation, celebration event).
The city is also awaiting tribal cultural input for interpretive signage and welcoming message.
