Intensive behavioral health treatment facilities

Intensive behavioral health treatment facilities (IBHTFs) are a type of residential treatment facility (RTF). IBHTFs are for people who no longer benefit from treatment at state hospitals, but who are still voluntarily seeking further treatment and support to fully integrate back into their community.

Services

IBHTFs use a person-centered treatment planning philosophy that incorporates person-first, strengths-based, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed principles. These facilities each have up to 16 beds for live-in care that prioritizes the person’s needs. They provide onsite behavioral health interventions, psychosocial rehabilitation, and skill building to help people reintegrate back into their community.

The teams

Each IBHTF will have a team of specially trained staff who will provide 24/7 coverage. Each IBHTF treatment team consists of:

  • Psychiatric care provider
  • Mental health professional
  • Registered nurse
  • Mental health care provider
  • Certified peer counselor
  • Substance use disorder professional
  • Program support staff

Facilities

The Department of Commerce funded the development of these projects. The Health Care Authority contracts with the new facilities to provide them with start-up funding and technical support for development. There are currently three operational facilities located in Renton, Tacoma and Olympia. 

The facilities currently in development are located in:

  • Tacoma (2) 
  • Kennewick 
  • Bremerton
  • Spokane 
  • Mount Vernon