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Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group (CYBHWG)
The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group (CYBHWG) provides recommendations to the Legislature to improve behavioral health services and strategies for children, youth, young adults, and their families. The group includes representatives from the Legislature, state agencies, health care providers, tribal governments, community health services, and other organizations, as well as parents of children and youth who have received services.
The Governor's office is seeking nominations for some work group positions. Apply today!
Note: Prior to the 2020 legislative session, this work group was named the Children's Mental Health Work Group (CMHWG).
On this page
Mission
The CYBHWG’s work is focused on:
- Identifying barriers to and opportunities for accessing behavioral health services and strategies for children, youth and young adults (prenatal to age 25 years old) and their families that are:
- Accessible,
- Effective,
- Timely,
- Culturally and linguistically relevant,
- Supported by evidence, and
- Incorporate tailored innovations as needed.
The CYBHWG advises the Legislature on statewide behavioral health services and supports, and recommends improvements. It also monitors enacted legislation, programs, and policies.
Advisory groups
During the 2020 interim, the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group (CYBHWG) has four advisory groups working in these areas:
Prenatal to age five relational health
- Lead: Jamie Elzea
Email: jamie@wa-aimh.org
Workforce and rates
Specific to the prenatal to 25 age group.
Leads:
- Representative Mari Leavitt
Email: Mari.Leavitt@leg.wa.gov - Hugh Ewart
Email: Hugh.Ewart@seattlechildrens.org - Laurie Lippold
Email: Laurie.Lippold@gmail.com
Student behavioral health and suicide prevention
Leads:
- Representative My-Linh Thai
Email: My-Linh.Thai@leg.wa.gov - Camille Goldy
Email: camille.goldy@k12.wa.us - Lee Collyer
Email: lee.collyer@k12.wa.us
Youth and young adult continuum of care
- Lead: Representative Lauren Davis
Background
The Children's Behavioral Health Work Group was first created by the Legislature by Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2439 (2016), the workgroup released recommendations before disbanding July 1, 2017. The workgroup reformed in 2018 through Engrossed Second Subsititute House Bill 2779 (2018) to continue the work they started. In 2020, Second Substitute House Bill 2737 renamed the work group as the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group, and extended its work through 2026.
The work ends on December 30, 2026.
Contact
Email: cybwg@hca.wa.gov
