Prenatal, child, and young adult behavioral health services

Behavioral health (mental health, substance use disorder (SUD), and problem gambling) services are available to children, youth, and young people from birth through age 25 and their families. This page will help you learn how to pay for and get services. Youth ages 13 and older can get behavioral health services without prior consent from a parent, guardian, or  a family member. 

Does your child or young person need immediate help?

Do you want to receive announcements about prenatal, child, and young adult behavioral health?

How do I find services for a child or young person?

How much do services cost?

There is no cost for services provided to families enrolled in Apple Health. Reduced fees are available for eligible families enrolled in a Washington health plan.

Other health plans offer different premiums and fees for services. Some services at community agencies are provided on a sliding-fee scale.

Private health insurance plans are managed by the Office of Insurance Commissioner. Please contact their office for questions or concerns. Online and printed telephone directories have lists of counselors and behavioral health agencies in the counseling section or community services pages.

Learn more about prenatal, child, and young adult services

Explore the following resources for behavioral health services in Washington State.

Services and programs

Community behavioral health programs (P25) quick reference guide

Implementation projects
Program or service Resources
Behavioral Health Respite
Children in Crisis (SS HB 1580)
Children's Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP)
ECHO START training
Education for discharge planners for safe and stable housing for youth and young adults
Family Initiated Treatment (FIT)
Family Substance Use Disorder education and curriculum and Substance Use Disorder Family Navigator program
First Episode Psychosis - New Journeys expansion

Gray's Harbor family preservation substance use disorder residential care for families

(The definition of family preservation is being developed and subject to change)

Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Partial Hospitalization (PHP) program for children and youth pilots to Medicaid access
Mental Health Assessment for Young Children (MHAYC)
Neurodevelopmental Behavioral Treatment Center (NBTC), formerly Habilitative Mental Health (HMH) program
Parent Child Assistance Program (PCAP) rate increase
Pregnant and Parenting Individuals and Parent Child Assistance Program expansion

Prenatal substance exposure (HB1168)

Prenatal substance exposure (SB 1587)

Parent Portal, BH360
Kids Mental Health WA, formerly Regional youth behavioral health navigators
Rapid housing response time for youth and young adults
Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP)
The Bridge
WISe specialty teams
Youth mobile response stabilization services (MRSS) 988 and WA crisis response rollout
Collaborations, round tables, and workgroups

Collaborations, round tables, and work groups provide guidance, direction, and oversight.

Provider and network needs in response to youth SUD residential closures

Informational sessions were held in June, July and August 2023 in response to youth substance use disorder (SUD) residential closures, and to hear provider impacts and needs.

No shame in your brain campaign

HCA launched a new mental health promotion campaign entitled "No Shame in Your Brain" directed towards youth ages 13-18. The campaign promotes easy-to-access resources by text or phone for youth who want to connect and talk with someone. The campaign focuses on socializing mental health as a positive concept and celebrates the unique qualities of teens.

You can learn more about the campaign by reading the no shame in your brain toolkit.

Medicaid school-based behavioral health services and billing toolkit

The Medicaid school-based behavioral health services and billing toolkit is a resource intended for school districts and educational service districts. The toolkit includes information about:

  • Different Medicaid funding options available to local education agencies.
  • Information on how to become licensed as a behavioral health agency (BHA) with the Department of Health.
  • Examples of Medicaid-covered behavioral health services, behavioral health resources and supports for schools.
  • Best practices for working with and contracting with the Medicaid managed care organizations in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement for behavioral health services provided to K-12 students.

View the toolkit.

Prenatal through 25 implementation webinar series

The Prenatal through 25 team has established a series of implementation status webinars with Q&A. The webinar will outline bill language, how teams are implementing programs, timelines, and the current process/progress to date.

Upcoming meetings
Date Topics Location, call-in information, meeting materials
TBD    
Prior meetings
Date Topics Location, call-in information, meeting materials
December 2023
  • Grays Harbor family preservation substance use disorder residential care for families
  • Parent Child Assistance Program (PCAP) rate increase
  • Caregiver Respite
  • Youth mobile response & stabilization services (MRSS) 988 & WA crisis response rollout
  • Prenatal substance exposure (HB1168)
  • Kids Mental Health WA, formerly Regional Youth Behavioral Health Navigators

Presentation slides (12/12/2023)

Presentation recording (12/12/2023)

October 2023
  • Children’s Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP) expansion and rate increase
  • HCA’s role in Rapid housing response time for youth and young adults
  • Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization (IOP/PH) for children and youth pilots to Medicaid access
  • New Journeys expansion
  • Pregnant and Parenting Women (PPW) and Parent Child Assistance Program (PCAP) expansion for DCYF child welfare
  • Child and Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization program
  • Youth mobile response stabilization teams as part of 988 and WA Crisis response rollout

Presentation slides (10/10/2023)

Presentation recording (10/10/2023)

September 2023
  • The Bridge
  • WISe specialty sites
  • ECHO START training
  • 1580 Children in Crisis
  • Prenatal substance exposure

Presentation slides (9/12/2023)

Presentation recording (9/12/2023)

December 2022
  • Children's Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP)
  • Habilitative Mental Health
  • Short-term Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP)
  • Regional Youth Behavioral Health Navigator
  • Gray's Harbor family preservation for pregnant and parenting women
  • Education for discharge planners for safe and stable housing for youth and young adults
  • Parent Portal Parent Child Assistance Program
  • New Journeys expansion

Presentation slides (12/2022)

Presentation recording (12/2022)

November 2022

  • Children's Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP)
  • Habilitative Mental Health
  • Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalizations pilot programs
  • Mental Health Assessment for Young Children
  • Behavioral Health Respite
  • SUD Family Navigators & Family SUD education and curriculum
  • Family Initiated Treatment (FIT)
  • Youth mobile response stabilization teams

Presentation slides (11/2022)

Presentation recording (11/2022)

October 2022

  • Children's Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP)
  • Habilitative Mental Health
  • Short-term Residential Crisis Stabilization Program (RCSP)
  • Regional Youth Behavioral Health Navigator
  • Parent Portal
  • New Journeys expansion

Presentation slides (10/17/2022)