Prenatal, child, and young adult behavioral health services
Behavioral health services; including mental health, substance use disorder (SUD), and problem gambling support are available for children, youth, and young adults up to age 25, as well as their families. This page will help you understand how to access and pay for services.
If you're 13 or older, you can get behavioral health care without needing permission from a parent, guardian, caregiver, or family member.
Does your child or young person need immediate help?
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For a life-threatening emergency: Call 911.
- For 24-hour suicide prevention or a mental health crisis: Call or text 988.
- For substance use, problem gambling, or mental health support: Contact the Washington Recovery Help Line or the mental health crisis line in your area.
On this page
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How do I find services for a child, young person, or pregnant/parenting individual?
Navigating behavioral health services can be complicated, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Some of the services we suggest starting with include:
- Get a free referral: Call Washington's Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens at 1-833-303-5737, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They help families, regardless of insurance, find mental health services in their community.
- Check your insurance: Call the number on the back of your insurance card to find out what services your plan covers.
- Apply for Apple Health: If you need coverage, you may quality for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid).
- Call Washington Recovery Helpline: Reach trained professionals 24/7 for free, confidential support with mental health, substance use, and problem gambling issues. Call 866-789-1511 or visit the Washington Recovery Helpline website.
- Visit Kids Mental Health WA: Access easy-to-understand information and tools to help you navigate behavioral health services for children, youth, and families across Washington State.
- Find parent support through COPE: Visit the Center of Parent Excellence (COPE) project for parent or caregiver peer support for navigating the children’s behavioral health system.
What programs or services are available?
The services identified below offer behavioral health services from pregnancy through young adulthood in communities across the state, in some cases regardless of age or insurance coverage.
- Pregnancy and birth to 5
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A variety of programs and services are available to support pregnant individuals, parents, caregivers, and young children. Explore these resources to learn how they can support you and your family.
- Infant-early childhood mental health (IECMH)
- Center of Parent Excellence (COPE) project
- Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe)
- Parent Child Assistance Program (PCAP)
- Youth mobile response stabilization services (MRSS)
- System of Care grant expansion
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network (FASDPN)
- Families in Recovery with Parent Trust for Washington Children
- Pregnant and Parenting Women (PPW) services
- Perinatal Supports Washington
- Children (6-12)
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A variety of programs and services are available to support children ages 6-12 and their families. Explore these resources to learn how they can support you and your family.
- Children’s Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP)
- Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe)
- Youth mobile response stabilization services (MRSS)
- System of Care grant expansion
- Center of Parent Excellence (COPE) project
- Kids Mental Health Washington
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network (FASDPN)
- Youth (13-17)
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A variety of programs and services are available to support youth ages 13-17 and their families. Explore these resources to learn how they can support you and your family.
- Children’s Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP)
- Family Initiated Treatment (FIT)
- Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe)
- Youth mobile response stabilization services (MRSS)
- System of Care grant expansion
- The Bridge Coalition
- Center of Parent Excellence (COPE) project
- First Episode Psychosis Program and Early Psychosis Initiative
- Youth and Young Adult Housing Response Team (YYHART)
- Kids Mental Health Washington
- Healthy Transitions program
- Youth substance use disorder treatment services
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network (FASDPN)
- Young adults (18-25)
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A variety of programs and services are available to support young adults and their families. Explore these resources to learn how they can support you and your family.
- First Episode Psychosis Program and Early Psychosis Initiative
- Youth mobile response stabilization services (MRSS)
- System of Care grant expansion
- The Bridge Coalition
- Youth substance use disorder treatment services
- Substance Use Disorder Family Navigator Project
- Collegiate Recovery program
- Youth and Young Adult Housing Response Team (YYHART)
- Healthy Transitions
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network (FASDPN)
How much do services cost?
If you have Apple Health, your services are free. If you’re enrolled in a Washington health plan, you may qualify for reduced fees.
Costs vary for other health plans, and some community agencies offer services on a sliding-fee scale based on your income.
If you have private insurance, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner can help with questions. You can also find counselors and behavioral health agencies in online directories or the community services section of phone books.
How can I get involved?
Get involved in shaping the future of behavioral health services for children, youth, young adults, and families across Washington State. Whether you have lived experience in behavioral health as a youth or as a parent/caregiver or a passion for making a difference, you can play an important role in shaping the policies and services that impact the mental health and well-being of our communities.
To learn more and join one of our initiatives, visit the Prenatal, child, youth, and young adult behavioral health webpage.
Your involvement can help ensure that all voices are heard and that behavioral health services meet the needs of the people they are designed to serve.
(Updated June 2025)