About Us

Lake Whatcom Center

LWC’s purpose is to provide residential care and community outpatient mental health programs and treatment in a psycho-social rehabilitation model for chronically mentally ill adults to facilitate their achieving and maintaining an optimal level of independence, health, and fulfillment.

LWC excels in understanding and providing levels of service based on ability to recognize where the consumer is in their recovery.  Services are provided to meet individual needs and incorporate natural supports.

History

Lake Whatcom Residential and Treatment Center was created in 1968 as a non-profit, 501(C)(3) organization in Whatcom County, under the name Blue Canyon Foundation.  In the early 70’s, our focus shifted from developmental disabilities and elderly care to mental health.  In 1980 we moved closer to Bellingham and changed our name to Lake Whatcom Residential and Treatment Center – Lake Whatcom Center (LWC) for short.  Since then we have expanded our services and currently provide licensed residential care in our boarding home, independent supported living, community outpatient mental health services, intensive mental health services (IOP and PACT), employment services, and protective payee services.

Outpatient Programs

Includes:

  • Community Case Managment

  • Intensive Outpatient Services

  • PACT Program

  • Employment Services

  • Therapy Program

Andrew Hovenden

andrew.hovenden@lwrtc.org

(360) 685-8745

  Residential Programs

Includes:

  • Agate Heights Assisted Living Facility

  • Baker Creek Residential Treatment Center

  • HEART Program

  • Recovery Beds

  • Embedded Library Services

  • Maplewood Enhanced Service Fa

Lafarro WIlliams

lafarro.williams@lwrtc.org

(360) 398-5011

photos from the annual NAMI Whatcom Stigma Stomp

more info at namiwhatcom.org

Vision

To actively strengthen our community through compassionate, collaborative and integrated care.

Mission

To enhance quality of life and promote wellness and community inclusion for the people we serve through the delivery of integrated and compassionate care and human services.

Values

  • Accountability and Integrity

    • We keep the commitments we make to clients, to each other, and to the community. We ensure high-quality services at a sustainable cost.

  • Collaboration

    • We actively seek meaningful and diverse partnerships to improve services and systems for the people we serve. We value communication and cooperation between team members, programs, and departments to ensure that people receive needed services and supports.

  • Compassion

    • Our work is driven by dedication to the people we serve and an understanding of the importance of community and quality of life to each of us.

  • Dignity and Respect

    • We value uniqueness and the diversity of each individual, and respond and recognize the human dignity of every person.

  • Innovation

    • We challenge the way it’s always been done and learn from experience to shape a better future.

 Overarching Goal

Develop and maintain a compassionate and collaborative organizational culture that supports our programs, staff, quality improvement and financial growth

Guiding Goals

  • Programs

    • Explore and assess the feasibility of developing new programs and modify existing programs to address gaps in LWC services.

  • Staff

    • Develop, train, implement and continuously assess a meaningful performance process that promotes accountability and rewards positive outcomes.

  • Quality and Compliance

    • Establish and maintain a culture of measurement and data driven decision making that leads to positive client outcomes and staff satisfaction.

  • Finance

    • Establish and maintain fiscal sustainability through system changes.